What cheap notebook to run RockSmith

Flying_Furball
Flying_Furball used Ask the Experts™
on
Can anybody suggest a PC for me to buy?  I have a PC I'm perfectly happy with, but it won't run ROCKSMITH 2014.  I want to buy the cheapest Windows (preferably 8) PC notebook (or, better yet, tablet) that can run the program RockSmith 2014.

Per manufacturer's website:

PC Minimum Requirements
OS: Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8
Processor: 2.66 GHz Intel Core2 Duo E6750 or 2.8 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 9.0c-compliant with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)*
Hard Drive Space: 12 GB
Sound: DirectX-compatible

PC Recommended
OS: Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8
Processor: 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3-540 or 3.30 GHz AMD Athlon II X3 455 or better
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 9.0c-compliant with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)*
Hard Drive Space: 12 GB
Sound: DirectX-compatible

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release
AMD Radeon HD 2600 XT / 3000 / 4000 / 5000 / 6000 / 7000 series
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT / 9 / 200 / 400 / 500 / 600 / 700 series

I want to buy a cheap--I'm open to used or new--light PC laptop (better yet, tablet; better yet tablet with removable keyboard).  PRICE IS BY FAR THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTOR.  Small would be great, so I can put it in my guitar case, but price is the main thing.

Any suggestions?  Alternatively, is there some master list of what PC contains what CPU and what GPU.  I mean a list ranked by performance.  If there is, then maybe I can answer my own question.

Thank you all.
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KimputerIT Manager
Commented:
Not sure which country you're from, but for Europe, this might be the one you're looking for:

Toshiba Satellite C55-A-1N8 (around 700 euros). At 2.3 KG it's not that light, but you said price is more important. You can't have both a low price AND a light laptop, as those contradict each other.
Davis McCarnOwner
Commented:
The video performance of the 3rd & 4th generation Intel core ix CPU's is as good as almost all of those cards listed in your post and; unforunately, IMHO, AMD's tend to run too hot and cause problems down the road.
You ought to be able to get a very nice Acer Core i5 for under $550 US
Flying_Furball

Author

Commented:
Kimputer:  I'm in the US.  Unless the dollar has massively appreciated against the Euro since the last time I checked (years ago)--not exactly likely, given the US's (de-)industrialization policies (i.e., massive trade deficits)--I wouldn't call 700 euros "cheap."

I'd like to spend no more than $300 (plus the cost of the game), and I'm OK with the computer being used.

Davis...:  I'll look into what you suggested, on the used market.
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Flying_Furball

Author

Commented:
Davis:

That CPU is way too slow (specs require 2.66GHz), or am I comparing apples to battleships?
Davis McCarnOwner
Commented:
Your specs are for an old CPU, vintage 2009 and the recommended CPU is a first generation Core i3.
i3-540: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3+540+%40+3.07GHz&id=738
i3-3217U: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-3217U+%40+1.80GHz&id=764
Hmmm....
It is a little slower; though, much faster than that Core 2 and the video performance is much better...
OK, try this one ($479): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-Z410-Laptop-Intel-Core-i5-4200M-8GB-DDR3-1TB-HDD-/111336822687?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item19ec31179f#ht_2117wt_1182
Core i5 4200M: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-4200M+%40+2.50GHz&id=2016
Michael-Best
Commented:
With your price limitation ("I'd like to spend no more than $300") the only way is to search through listings of used or refurbished PCs.
The E6500 you listed has been sold.
Try:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WINDOWS-8-1-PROFESSIONAL-AND-OFFICE-2013-WITH-DELL-LATITUDE-D830-WITH-/281322558155?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item41802192cb#ht_2046wt_900
Flying_Furball

Author

Commented:
The thing is that I don't know what specs to look for, especially regarding graphics--it's more than just a speed--so I don't know what used PCs are OK?  Are there ANY used tablets that would be OK?

Thanks much for your time.
Flying_Furball

Author

Commented:
I should mention that, now, given the difficulty I'm having finding what I want, I'm considering tabling the whole thing for like a year.  So, are there any Windows tablets or Windows tablets with removable keyboards that would run Rocksmith 2014, cost be damned?  Maybe I can get one used a year from now.
KimputerIT Manager
Commented:
Price notwithstanding, tablets with full Windows 8 versions right now, have Intel Atom cpu's. It's lacking in performance while the graphics will also lacking.
Examples HP Elitepad and  Dell Venue 11.
Flying_Furball

Author

Commented:
OK.  I thank you for your input.  I'm going to close out this question here and try attacking it from a different, simpler angle.  Thanks.

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