Elitegroup Computer Systems, known to most of us as ECS, was formed in 1987. From their humble beginnings, they have become an industry-leading OEM that not only manufactures a large number of products for themselves but other vendors as well.
ECS currently offers mini-PCs, laptops, motherboards, tablets, and other IoT devices under their various brands and has expanded into a large number of markets. Even if you have never directly bought an ECS-branded product, it is still highly likely that you have used or owned one they manufactured. With each passing year, ECS continues to grow, offering a larger and more diverse portfolio of consumer products.
In today’s review, I take a look at the ECS LIVA Z2. While similar to the LIVA Z and LIVA Q, this latest model is a bit larger. Even so, it remains extremely compact and with the ability to be mounted to a monitor or television set with its VESA mount. Its increased size also allows for a single 2.5″ HDD bay for expanded storage. Meanwhile, the CPU sees an incremental upgrade to Intel’s Pentium Silver N5000 quad-core processor based on the Goldmont Plus architecture.
Finally, these tiny systems are capable of 4K @ 60 Hz thanks to the implementation of HDMI 2.0. Overall, this feels like a solid update to the product line, but before making any snap judgments, let’s take a closer look.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Model: | ECS LIVA Z2 |
| Processor: | Intel Pentium Silver N5000 Clock Speed:1.1 GHz (2.7 GHz Turbo) |
| Integrated Graphics: | Intel HD Graphics 605 |
| Memory: | 1 x 4 GB (2400 MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM) |
| Storage: | 32 GB eMMC Flash 1x 2.5″ Drive bay |
| Optical Drive: | None |
| Audio: | Gemini Lake SoC High Definition Audio Controller Realtek ALC235 High Definition Audio Controller |
| Connectivity: | 1x HDMI 2.0 1x HDMI v1.4 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Port 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A Ports 2x USB 2.0 Ports 1x Audio Combo Jack 1x Digital Mic 1x Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit LAN |
| Communications: | Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165NGW 1×1 802.11ac – 433 Mbps 1x Realtek Gigabit LAN RTL8168/8111 Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Cooling: | Fanless aluminium heatsink |
| Operating System: | OS tested: Windows 10 OS included: none |
| Warranty: | 2 year |
| MSRP: | $220.00 |
