I would figure out (all of) the requirements first ... just to start: AI (needs an "AI" coprocessor, lots of ram), trading machine (needs cores, ram, graphics, multiple monitors) seems to place the system at the "higher end" of the business class of machines, vs the gaming machine. What all does the "trading environment" need ...
Once OP has listed all the requirements of these functions, the hardware should fall out of that.
Same thing for software ... list all the apps (trading especially, and now AI as well), and their requirements, at which point you'll know if the hardware also supports all of this software.
If we just go with general gut feel, you're going to want/afford:
- all the cores/threads you can get
- all the ram you can get (min 64gb, maybe 128gb)
- multiple SSD's (keep os separate from data)
- nvidia (but, if you do amd, then probably amd graphics)
... and this starts to look like a high-end business desktop (kind of like a high-end CAD/CAM station, but without a specific CAD graphics card, tablet and such). I'd say requirements progressed beyond that of a laptop, but you possibly could get by with a high-end laptop that has a high-end "docking station" concept, so you can still support all the monitors, etc.
IMHO, I'd lean to a higher-end tower (supporting a larger mobo, ssd's, usb & such), stuffed with everything you need (from the requirements), and a desk of multiple monitors keyboard/mouse, and so on. You'll be sitting at the "trading desk" for many hours, so a very comfortable room, chair, desk, and all.
The OS will most likely be Windows (10/11, x64) ... it will handle all the cores, threads, ram, etc. and give it to the key apps you'll have running. If there is some specific linux app found, then add virtualization, and run a linux VM with that app.
Hope this helps ...
