Free tier VM max specs for day trading

Question

I have config a free tier Win EC2 instance with the basic specs, but for day trading with good performance this is recommended from prop firm:

# Bookmap System Requirements

You can install Bookmap on as many computers as you want yet you can run Bookmap on only one of them at a time. Although, Bookmap Global+ version allows for access to Replay Mode on a secondary machine.

These are the technical specifications required to successfully install and run Bookmap. Keep in mind that during a market activity spike all your trading software is likely to start consuming more CPU/RAM, so plan resources accordingly.

## Bookmap for Windows
### Minimum:
Bookmap supports 64-bit operating system only
Windows 8
Minimum of 1280x960 display resolution ¹
Minimum of 8 GB RAM and 10 GB free disk space (The application itself takes ~500MB, but the cache requires a lot more storage)
Intel Core i5 (or equivalent)
Stable internet connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbit/sec
A mouse with a middle button is required for the one-click trading add-on feature.
.NET 3.5

### Recommended for light use (no MBO, low resolution or limited depth data, no heavy software running in parallel):
Windows 10
Minimum of 1920x1080 display resolution ¹
Video card with a minimum of 1 GB memory supporting OpenGL 3.3. Ideally, a relatively modern one (released within the last 4 years).
16 GB RAM or more
SSD for Bookmap data folder with 100 GB of free disk space
Intel Core i7/AMD Ryzen 7 (or equivalent) or better. 4+ cores. ² Able to stay above 2.6GHz consistently. ⁵
Stable internet connection with a speed of at least 50Mbit/s.
A mouse with a middle button is required for the one-click trading add-on feature.
.NET 3.5

### Recommended for heavy use (MBO, high-resolution full-depth data, e.g. Rithmic):
Windows 10
Minimum of 1920x1080 display resolution ¹
Modern video card with a minimum of 1 GB memory supporting OpenGL 3.3. Requirements go up as you connect more/bigger monitors.
32 GB RAM. More if you run other software in the background. ³
SSD for Bookmap data folder with 100 GB of free disk space. More if you want to keep more data loaded (e.g. leave Bookmap running for a week retaining data. Around 50GiB/day is usually enough, but depending on number of instruments you might want more)
Modern Intel Core i9/AMD Ryzen 9 (or equivalent) or better. 8+ cores. ² ⁴ Able to stay above 3GHz consistently. ⁵
Stable internet connection with a speed of at least 100Mbit/s and low package loss. Be careful with using WiFi or DOCSIS.
A mouse with a middle button is required for the one-click trading add-on feature.
.NET 3.5

Could experts tell me if this is beyond free tier capability, what is the nearest upgrade I need and likely monthly cost for day trading purpose. It will not be running 24/7 but most likely during the +/- 2 hrs before and after US Session time only. A rough estimation would be appreciated.

MikeLim · Answer

As per what the re:Post Agent mentioned, your requirements are above free tier limits.

You can use [AWS Pricing Calculator](https://calculator.aws/) to get an initial estimate.

`Create estimate`, select your `Region`,  `Add service` and choose `Amazon EC2`

Configure the EC2 settings as needed. You may need to choose `Daily spike traffic` with minimum of 0 and maximum of 1 instance.

More details in [documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/pricing-calculator/latest/userguide/ec2-estimates.html)

re:Post Agent · Answer

The AWS Free Tier EC2 instance specifications are not sufficient for the day trading requirements you've outlined, especially for heavy use scenarios. The Free Tier typically offers a t2.micro or t3.micro instance, which is significantly less powerful than what's recommended for day trading with Bookmap.

For day trading purposes, you would need to upgrade to a more powerful EC2 instance. Based on the requirements you've provided, here's what you should consider:

1. For light use:
   - Instance type: Consider a c5 or m5 instance series
   - At least 4 vCPUs
   - 16 GB of RAM
   - SSD-backed instance storage

2. For heavy use:
   - Instance type: Consider a c5 or m5 instance series with higher specifications
   - At least 8 vCPUs
   - 32 GB of RAM
   - SSD-backed instance storage

The monthly cost will vary depending on the exact instance type, region, and usage patterns. As a rough estimate, you might be looking at anywhere from $70 to $300 or more per month for a Windows instance that meets these specifications, running 24/7. The cost could be lower if you only run the instance during trading hours.

Keep in mind that these instances will not be eligible for the Free Tier, and you'll be charged standard EC2 rates. Also, ensure that the instance you choose supports the required GPU capabilities for Bookmap.

It's important to note that while EC2 can be used for this purpose, you should carefully consider factors like network latency and reliability when using cloud-based solutions for time-sensitive applications like day trading. You may want to explore dedicated hosting solutions or consider a high-performance local machine as alternatives.  
**Sources**  
[System requirements for Virtual Machines (VMs) - AWS Elemental Live](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/elemental-live/latest/installguide/vm-req.html)  
[Get started with the AWS Free Tier - How AWS Pricing Works](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/how-aws-pricing-works/get-started-with-the-aws-free-tier.html)  
[Compute – Amazon EC2 Instance Types – AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/instance-types/)

Free tier VM max specs for day trading

Bookmap System Requirements

Bookmap for Windows

Minimum:

Recommended for light use (no MBO, low resolution or limited depth data, no heavy software running in parallel):

Recommended for heavy use (MBO, high-resolution full-depth data, e.g. Rithmic):

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