How many MT4 platforms can I run?

Hi,

I have been having same issues with 1 x PC. Other PC is fine. Am only running 8 x MT4. PC specification is

intel Core i7-4770 CPU @3.40 GHz
32 GB RAM.

1. Total memory use with all mt4 running is 24%. Each mt4 takes under 70 MB of RAM;
2. Total CPU used is at 12%. Each MT4 takes 2%;
3. Disk MT4 is installed on is 465 GB where profiles are installed (93.9 GB used). The MT4 is inatalled on a D:\ drive with capacity 1.81 TB (135 GB used)

I have done all of those on all MT$

1. Deleted all history;
2. Set Max bars in History at 5000. Set Max bars in Chart to 1000.

It was still slow across 6 of the MT4 except one. The one that's not so slow I have just 4 x charts and 4 x indicators. On the other 6 MT4, I only have under 5 charts open on each. MyFXBOOK EA and one or 2 more EA as extra.

I decided to remove all EAs on the other 6x MT4 and just see what happens with just the charts open (no indicators) on the other slow 6 x MT4. This did nothing and they are still very slow stuck on not responding. When market closes, I can access all the MT4 no issues and get to the charts, which is pointless.

The 6 x MT4s are different broker MT4 and not MeTaQuotes.

On another PC, am running more than 6 x MT4 (MetaQuotes and Broker ones), lots of indicators and EAs, and I don't see any issue with MT4 slow. This one is

HP Workstation Z210
Intel Xeon CPU E21240 @3.30 GHz
16 GB RAM

What would make the Intel Core i7-4770 CPU one run so slow ?

Is it disk related ? Can defragmenting the disks improves this issue ?

Am defragmenting both C: and D: drive on the slow one and see anyway if this changes things.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thank You

I've ran up to three MT4 platforms with multiple charts open on a two-core laptop with 4GB RAM without a problem. Apart from those I also ran an Internet browser and a chat program. Anything more and I started seeing some lag.
All that said, I recommend regularly cleaning out one's cookies and temporary Internet files, you'd be surprised how much the latter especially can slow your computer down.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback. I actually only run MT4 on this PC with issue. But I clear Chrome cookies.

BTW, I decided to now install MetaQuotes MT4 on this PC. Never installed this before. I installed 7 x terminals, using the brokers link, with only same charts, no EAs or indicators. I did same thing

1. set the bars options to 5000 (history) and 2500 (on chart one).
2. Delete History to start fresh

I can access the 7 terminals and not as bad as using brokers terminal.

The brokers MT4 were installed for > 1 year running. But I do close them regularly. At least with current issue, I was closing them weekly, and at times restarting PC daily, cleaning history etc .. to see why it's so slow. With brokers with 1 x MT4 it's fine but once I add more it gets worse. I never had this issue before years ago. This only started happening this year.

So why fresh MetaQuotes installs perform better than broker's MT4 tha'ts been installed > 1 year ago ? I am yet to add EA, indicators, I had before to see the difference, but am already seeing better performance at present.

I went back to basic.

1. Closed all the 7 MetaQuotes MT4
2. Delete all profiles, and History from all of them
3. Left the bars options to 5000 (history) and 2500 (on chart one)
4. Open 1 x MT4 at a time. So now no charts
5. At 3 x MT4 still OK. After I open 4 x MT4, things starts to slow down but I can open till 7th MT4.

I can't even access Resource Monitor but can run Task Manager.

OS is Windows 10 64 bit. May be MT4 don't run well on certain types of processor, since on my HP Z210, with less memory (16 GB), and different processor (Intel Xeon CPU E21240 @3.30 GHz), I have no issues running 21 x MT4 with Indicators and EAs. OS is Windows 10 on the Z210.

Anyone have issues running MT4 with intel Core i7-4770 CPU @3.40 GHz ?

togr posted:

theHand posted:
I run 20 regularly on a dedicated server. If you're co-hosting on a VPS someone else might be getting your resources. I don't think I'd have any problem going to 40 or higher.

But I also have a very high spec server, 32 GIG RAM and everything that comes with that...

Actually metaquotes imposes a limit of 32 MT4 instances on computer/vps/server.
So no, you cant run 40. You can run 32 max.
I run 32 on my dedicated server, with optimization it runs smoothly, without opt it is terrible regardless the params.
2016.12.09 09:06:05.971 Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (x64 based PC), IE 11.00, RDP, UAC, 12 x Intel Core i7-3930K @ 3.20GHz, RAM: 45575 / 64947 Mb, HDD: 2492809 / 2861258 Mb, GMT+01:00

You can run virtualBox on your VPS and run on every virtual machine 32 Metatrader.
If you VPS has enough cpu power, it is no problem.

thomas

theHand posted:
I run 32 on my dedicated server, with optimization it runs smoothly, without opt it is terrible regardless the params.
2016.12.09 09:06:05.971 Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (x64 based PC), IE 11.00, RDP, UAC, 12 x Intel Core i7-3930K @ 3.20GHz, RAM: 45575 / 64947 Mb, HDD: 2492809 / 2861258 Mb, GMT+01:00

Interesting to see this is i7. I have plenty of RAM also at 32 GB, on i7-4770 @3.40 GHz and am struggling with just 7 MT4. My question is what is the optimization part ?

You can run virtualBox on your VPS and run on every virtual machine 32 Metatrader.
If you VPS has enough cpu power, it is no problem.

thomas

Mine is a dedicated PC just for MT4 only. So considering everything I've tried so far not getting anywhere. With this option are u saying 1 x Virtual server see how 32 goes ?

I have VMWare. What do you recommend as the virtual OS (Windows or Linux) ? I also have red hat enterprise . How much RAM per virtual for OS with 32 GB RAM ?

Am prepared to try anything just to sort this issue out.

I've done this on the slow MT4s PC 32 GB RAM PC. Setup VMWare 12.5, and installed a 16 GB Windows 10 Virtual Machine. Installed 5 x MT 4 so far (no EAs and indicators). Bars and History is same setup at 5000 and 5000. Performance so far is much better than previously . We see once I add EAs, what happens but I already see a big difference. Surprised I have to put a VM to see this big improvement.

What’s the advantage of using 20 trading servers? I am not sure about it, can you please explain? @nbisea

Dear AniLorak, 20 servers is not for everyone. But let me explain to you and the rest of community on this thread.

 Initially I was trying the most powerful VPS with multiple processors with 8 cores (at that time) thinking that they will be able to handle 20-30platforms. Obviously cost of such VPS is much higher. Later I found the optimal solution. It is better to spread the load over several VPS rather than putting everything on one, even the most powerful VPS.

I optimized for a year server hardware and quantity of platforms. I came to the conclusion that I get best performance if I run 9 MT platforms on each VPS. The optimal amount of charts/eas on each platform is 12 to 15.

It is advisable to restart platforms once a week. MT platforms with my configuration slow down during news but since I am not scalping I am satisfied with their performance.

These are the parameters of each VPS:
2 vCPUs Intel Xeon 312xx (Sandy Bidge) 2.7GH
RAM 2Gb

As you can see a chip is not high end but it is not expensive.

 I am paying 14EUR per server. The price is really good if not the best but I have to reinstall Windows server every 180 days because I have standard evaluation license for 180 days. On the other hand when I reinstall server and platforms I clear all logs and all clutter for optimal performance.

If anyone has got a server with a better price or better configuration for such price please let us know.

My advise is not to go for dedicated server but rather to get several VPS for the same price and you will see that you will be able to run many more platforms with excellent performance. Unless you are scalping or trading news.

I remember when I was novice I contacted Beeks support asking for advise and they told me loads of rubbish, emphasizing latency.

I learned everything the hard way and I am sharing my experience because sometimes I myself was finding really good info on the forums.

Spreading is best as explained by@argreen .

While I have 2 x 32 GB RAM separate systems, am now using virtual machines across the 2 x systems .

As for my VMs one is at 16 GB and am only putting max 10 MT4s on it. Works like a charm.

Another 16 GB VMs, I have pushed it a bit at 31 x MT4s (32 is maximum you can run). Keep in mind before VM, I was at 29 x MT4s on 32 GB system and it's impossible to access the MT4s during the week when market is open, even though they are working in the background. With the 16 GB VM, I seem to be able to access the 29 MT4s. VM CPU is at 97% used though with RAM under 40% used.

And I have a separate 6 GB only VM for no more than 3 x MT4s as that's the one I have the history at maximum keeping M1 data, which is best to download off MT4 every few months.

Everyone will have their own views and experience on this matter.

I think to run 10 MT4 you need at least 4 GB RAM VPS as per MT4 can includes 2 or 3 chart. Recetnly I took VPS from https://www.fxsvps.com/ premium plan and its working really awesome. I added around 10 MT4 with multi chart and running trade copier as well and RAM and CPU uses very low.
VPS price also very very reasonable comparing 99% Forex VPS website.