ECS LIVA Core Mini-PC

[cadaveca]

ECS has yet another LIVA iteration in stores now, ready to add basic compute functionality to all those home theatres without "smart" features. The tiny LIVA Core features faster HDD tech to make media playback features better, so it's not just ready for HT use; it's capable of more! Presenting the LIVA Core!

Show full review

 

[Chaitanya]

Where are the performance tests? power consumption tests? this feels like an advert.

 

[Rowsol]

I like how price is both a pro and a con.

 

[Dethroy]

No competition for NUCs. Move on.

 

[Frick]

Where are the performance tests? power consumption tests? this feels like an advert.

This. Very much this.

 

[Sihastru]

The green PCBs under the SoC are called 3DL Modules and contain a bunch of inductors that normally would be on the package substrate and were moved there to "improve the energy efficiency" and to "reduce the overall package z-height".

 

[Joss]

Where are the performance tests? power consumption tests? this feels like an advert.

This

 

[iO]

"It looks good, my snobby neighbours would like it, its pretty expensive but thats OK because Intel" ??!

Really strange review..

 

[Athlon2K15]

Its unlike @cadaveca to not have some sort of performance testing, I'm sure there is a reason behind it.

 

[cadaveca]

I like how price is both a pro and a con.

It's priced fairly compared to other units of the same capability. @ a bit over $400 USD, its price is high, but given the hardware, you can't get this sort of hardware for much cheaper.

No competition for NUCs. Move on.

Haswell i3-level performance @ <15W?

Its unlike @cadaveca to not have some sort of performance testing, I'm sure there is a reason behind it.

This type of device isn't a performance-oriented one. It's slow compared to a 6700K, but draws less than 5% the power. My oldest daughter uses it daily (she's 13), but she doesn't play games; just mostly Netflix use.

Also:

You can also damage the power button while trying to get the board out, so it is best to just leave it alone and not worry about it.

"It looks good, my snobby neighbours would like it, its pretty expensive but thats OK because Intel" ??!

Really strange review..

LoL. I know. Yet remember, I don't use a cell phone. So what else can you get for $400? a light-weight tablet that'll be far slower... an iPad? Like, would benchmarks make you buy it? It is no big deal for me to run some benchmarks, make graphs and post them. Any monkey can do that. Haven't really posted benchmarks with a review of one of these units ever. I just actually use them for a couple of months that then pull it apart and take pictures, give my thoughts. I got three more of this type of device sitting here waiting for review. I'll toss in benchmarks, no problem. ROFL. I got about 5 previously reviewed units as well.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

When a reviewer like Dave spends a lot of time talking about the brand of the SSD and the fact that a pre-built system needs to update when it's first started, it's what he's not saying that says volumes.
Sorry ECS, this is a $400 dud. It's really spiffy until you really start looking into it's specs and what you get for the money. But for my money, I'd rather get: Newegg is selling the HP Laptop 250 G5 (X9U07UT#ABA) Intel Core i5 6200U (2.30 GHz) 8 GB Memory 256 GB SSD Intel HD Graphics 520 15.6" Windows 10 Home 64-Bit for $480.
Intels wants way too much for these SoC's.

 

[Frick]

I just actually use them for a couple of months that then pull it apart and take pictures, give my thoughts.

Your thoughts on the looks and form factor. They are good both of them, but it's honestly more like a teardown/unboxing than a review, IMO. How is it used, what do you do with it? How well does it do what you want it to do? What about user scenarios you might not be interested in but others might be (say, low end/MOBA/indie gaming, heavy multitasking)? Yes, performance for the avarage users are not interesting anymore, because most things has the performance required, but still.

And this is of course up to you, but I personally would definitely disqualify it from the entire bloody market based solely on the fact that it has only 4GB DDR3 and that you cannot upgrade that. A thing for $400, in 2016. At least it should be more clear in the review (like a bracket in the specifications table).

 

[ShurikN]

Haven't really posted benchmarks with a review of one of these units ever. I just actually use them for a couple of months that then pull it apart and take pictures, give my thoughts. I got three more of this type of device sitting here waiting for review. I'll toss in benchmarks, no problem. ROFL. I got about 5 previously reviewed units as well.

You dont need a big amount of benches. One single and one multi threaded test for cpu, one lite game (dota 2 or smth) and one storage speed test.

 

[Unter_Dog]

This. Very much this.

+1

 

[Vayra86]

Have to agree with the others, this does not really come across as a proper review.

'It gets warm, but keeps silent'... how warm? how silent? Very relevant info that requires testing and accompanying graphs. I don't really need a users' impression on how bright a LED logo can be, nor am I interested in the unboxing at all (I mean really, what is there to say other than 'its got a power brick and some cables, maybe a booklet'??? Every product has this. Who cares... What matters is how it performs and what it costs, and a few shots on how it looks and informative text about actual build *quality* and cooling capacity.

In my humble opinion this review puts all the emphasis on the least important bits of the product, and leaves all the actually relevant information out.

 

[Caring1]

Have to agree with the others, this does not really come across as a proper review.

'It gets warm, but keeps silent'... how warm? how silent?

No fans = 0 decibels