Let's say it right away: gear doesn't make the trader. It's a bit like a pair of running shoes: they don't run for you, but a good pair saves you from blisters. You can be profitable with a laptop and a single screen. But a bad setup can clearly sabotage you. An unreadable screen that makes you miss an entry, an Internet outage in the middle of a position, or a wrecked back after three hours of waiting. Good gear doesn't magically make you better. It removes friction from daily life to help you keep your full focus on your charts.
Here's how to look at a trader's setup, from most useful to most comfortable. Simply take what makes sense for your budget and your way of trading, without trying to imitate a movie trading floor. The goal is simple: create an environment where you can focus fully on your decisions, without being distracted by technical problems.
1. Screens: see clearly, fast
This is where you should place your priority. Think of your desk as a car's dashboard: two screens change your life. The first is for analysis (your chart with the JARVIS METHOD indicators), the second for execution and tracking your orders. Aim for 27-inch screens (about 68 cm diagonal), with an IPS panel (a screen technology that offers faithful colors and reads well even from the side). If possible, choose a model with a USB-C input: it's a modern, universal plug format that lets you transmit the image and recharge your computer with a single cable, whether you're on PC or Mac.
For those just starting out, a single good-quality screen with sufficient resolution can be more than enough. The key is to be able to display your charts and orders clearly without having to juggle windows in a rush. Readability always comes before the number of screens.
2. The computer: smooth, without slowdowns — Windows or Mac
Your trading platform, your charts, and an open browser at the same time require some resources. Nothing extreme, but the computer must never "lag," because every second counts. Aim for RAM (random access memory) of 16 to 32 GB — it's the computer's temporary "work desk," where it stores what it's currently doing — and an SSD-type hard drive, faster than a classic hard drive for booting the machine in seconds and opening your software instantly.
- On Windows: a good laptop with a recent processor (like a Ryzen 7) to trade anywhere, or a fixed desktop computer if you don't move from home.
- On Mac: a MacBook Pro with an M-series chip — silent computers, with very long battery life, and perfect if you also want to do a bit of video editing on the side — or a more discreet Mac Mini as a fixed workstation. If you choose a laptop, a "USB-C hub" (a small multiport box) will let you plug in all your screens and accessories in one go.
Note in passing: modern tools like the JARVIS METHOD indicator on TradingView work just as well on both systems. So you can choose freely according to your habits, with no particular technical constraint.
3. Comfort: you spend hours sitting
We tend to forget it, and it's a classic mistake. A tired back or neck tension eventually weigh on concentration. Your body is your main work tool. An ergonomic office chair (one that properly supports your lower back) is one of the best discreet investments for lasting the distance. Also think about the height of your screens: the top of the screen should be roughly at eye level to avoid bending your neck.
Beyond gear, consistency also comes through tracking your habits. That's exactly what our member area offers: progress tracking, a trading journal to record your sessions (screenshots, result, mini psychological test), and mindset coaching to strengthen your discipline. It's all relayed by a Telegram assistant that reminds you of your daily plan and sends you the morning market brief. All tools that help you stay on course over the long term, well beyond simply setting up your desk.
4. Reliability: invisible safety
This is the most "professional" point and the one most tied to your risk management. Imagine: you open a position, and suddenly, the power goes out or the Internet box dies. You end up with an open trade without being able to intervene. To avoid this unnecessary stress, two simple pieces of equipment make all the difference:
- A UPS (uninterruptible power supply): it's a small backup battery for your computer. In the event of a power outage, it gives you a few minutes to close your positions cleanly and shut down your machine without losing your data.
- A backup 4G/5G router: a small box with a SIM card that takes over if your main Internet box fails in the middle of a session.
These aren't gadgets, they're peace-of-mind insurance. That's exactly the mindset we teach in our complete training, structured as a progressive path with bootcamps, mentoring, and events: you anticipate the unexpected so you can trade with a calm mind. And to stay informed about market trends that influence your sessions, our daily blog and the JARVIS Readings (economic analyses) provide you with useful reference points every day, complemented by country fact sheets and a glossary to master the vocabulary.
5. Complementary tools: simplifying decision-making
Beyond physical gear, some software tools can greatly improve your consistency. That's the case with the JARVIS METHOD indicator available on TradingView. This tool helps you visualize market conditions at a glance, without having to multiply mental calculations. It comes with a built-in position calculator and session and exchange reference points — enough to know precisely when markets are open and what position size is consistent with your risk management. Its detailed operation is part of the know-how reserved for members: you discover the principles in the training, then use it as a structuring framework, not as a magic black box.
These tools don't replace your thinking: they facilitate it. They're part of that "reduced friction" logic that lets you stay focused on what matters: applying your method with discipline, session after session. To support you in this progression, the member area also offers an orientation test to identify your profile, a "My Trading" hub with complete statistics, and a "My Fitness" section dedicated to your lifestyle — sleep, energy, nutrition — because a fit trader makes better decisions. And if you want to diversify your long-term investment horizons, our investment journal dedicated to stocks, ETFs, and crypto follows along with prices and a weekly report.
The complete recap
I've gathered all this recommended gear, sorted by category with a simple selector between Windows and Mac, on a dedicated page: 👉 See my "My trader setup" page. There you'll find each item to compare easily. You'll also find comparative directories of brokers and prop firms with their practical info (such as withdrawal times), so you can equip yourself with full knowledge of the facts. And if you want to go deeper into the method that will help you use this gear wisely, the JARVIS METHOD training awaits you on our site.
Transparency: the links to the online gear are affiliate links. If you go through them to equip yourself, you support the institute at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear that's useful in daily life; always compare prices and reviews before buying. This content is strictly educational. Trading involves a risk of capital loss — no equipment will change that reality, only your discipline and your method make the difference.