ECS LIVA X2 Mini PC (Braswell)

[cadaveca]

What sort of hardware can you get for a few more dollars than the cost of a retail copy of Windows 8.1? ECS has the answer with the ECS LIVA X2. Based on Intel's NUC platform featuring a Braswell SoC, the ECS LIVA X2 is a full PC that includes a full version of Windows 8.1. Hardware for pennies? Yes, please!

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[Disparia]

Cool.

CPU Info: http://ark.intel.com/products/87257/Intel-Celeron-Processor-N3050-2M-Cache-up-to-2_16-GHz

 

[Hood]

Too bad they used the slowest Braswell SOC (Celeron N3050), the Pentium N3700 clocks higher, has 4 cores instead of 2, and has better graphics (16 EU instead of 12, higher clock speed). Not sure this LIVA X2 is worth $200 - you can build an mITX system with the N3700, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD, ATX PSU, and a decent small case for around $300 (but you must supply the O.S.). That's cheap for a quad core 14nm system that will run everything except high-end games, with a system power draw of 40-50 watts, and is easy to build (and upgrade). I'm building one soon, just so I don't have to run my high-powered gaming rig to play music or surf the net...

 

[cadaveca]

Too bad they used the slowest Braswell SOC (Celeron N3050), the Pentium N3700 clocks higher, has 4 cores instead of 2, and has better graphics (16 EU instead of 12, higher clock speed). Not sure this LIVA X2 is worth $200 - you can build an mITX system with the N3700, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD, ATX PSU, and a decent small case for around $300 (but you must supply the O.S.). That's cheap for a quad core 14nm system that will run everything except high-end games, with a system power draw of 40-50 watts, and is easy to build (and upgrade). I'm building one soon, just so I don't have to run my high-powered gaming rig to play music or surf the net...

sure, there is better, yet as you said, the cost is more than double.

You can spend $150 on retail Windows, or spend $170, and get that copy of Windows and hardware to run that Windows. $20 overall hardware cost is pretty decent in my books. You want to spend $220+ on hardware... that's fine. These boxes are not for everyone, as I said in my conclusion.

(I do understand that Windows doesn't account for $150 of the cost of this unit, but as a consumer, those are your options).

 

[Ferrum Master]

I saw the heatsink... And got a flashback about Bioshock...

Well it has to be it

 

[newtekie1]

sure, there is better, yet as you said, the cost is more than double.

You can spend $150 on retail Windows, or spend $170, and get that copy of Windows and hardware to run that Windows. $20 overall hardware cost is pretty decent in my books. You want to spend $220+ on hardware... that's fine. These boxes are not for everyone, as I said in my conclusion.

(I do understand that Windows doesn't account for $150 of the cost of this unit, but as a consumer, those are your options).

It $100 for Windows, not $150. But, yeah, you aren't going to get much cheaper, and that is the point of this computer.

 

[cadaveca]

It $100 for Windows, not $150. But, yeah, you aren't going to get much cheaper, and that is the point of this computer.

Maybe in the US, but keep in mind I am in Canada, and we get dinged hard on hardware currently. I was thinking about Windows 8.1 Pro, locally it's nearly $200, so I "guessed" @ $150.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Category/OperatingSystems

 

[chlamchowder]

Maybe in the US, but keep in mind I am in Canada, and we get dinged hard on hardware currently. I was thinking about Windows 8.1 Pro, locally it's nearly $200, so I "guessed" @ $150.

Why go for the pro edition though? What exactly is in Win 10 Pro that you'd want for a $300 machine?

I'm not in the target market for this, but I admit it's pretty hard to put together a build that costs less than this thing and still outperforms it. The closest I got as an AM1 build that has a 60 GB SSD and 4 GB of RAM with the Athlon 5350, but that still went a bit above $200.

Also, this thing needs more RAM. Even if you're not doing anything heavy, 4 GB can be tight if you have enough tabs open.

 

[cadaveca]

Why go for the pro edition though? What exactly is in Win 10 Pro that you'd want for a $300 machine?

I'm not in the target market for this, but I admit it's pretty hard to put together a build that costs less than this thing and still outperforms it. The closest I got as an AM1 build that has a 60 GB SSD and 4 GB of RAM with the Athlon 5350, but that still went a bit above $200.

Also, this thing needs more RAM. Even if you're not doing anything heavy, 4 GB can be tight if you have enough tabs open.

I was merely explaining my thought process. I have Windows 10 Pro, so that's what stuck in my head.

There is another LIVA X2 unit, with 4 GB of ram, and a large drive (64 GB), but it does cost a bit more(~$250 IIRC).

 

[Uplink10]

I would rather take a barebone miniPC like a NUC or ASRock Beebox which would cost a little more but I would get better extensibility which could come in handy in the future and SD card slot should really be on this device.

I feel like barebone miniPCs already have limitations compared to PCs and this device has even more limitations.

 

[newtekie1]

Maybe in the US, but keep in mind I am in Canada, and we get dinged hard on hardware currently. I was thinking about Windows 8.1 Pro, locally it's nearly $200, so I "guessed" @ $150.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Category/OperatingSystems

Yeah, but this machine comes with Windows 8.1 "Home" so we should be comparing Windows 8.1 "Home" prices. As close to apples to apples as possible.

Either way though, I'm on your side. Even at $100 for the OS, that only leaves $100 for hardware, and this is a pretty good deal on hardware for $100. You aren't going to get a full new PC for $100, especially not one in this small of a form factor.

 

[cadaveca]

Yeah, but this machine comes with Windows 8.1 "Home" so we should be comparing Windows 8.1 "Home" prices. As close to apples to apples as possible.

Either way though, I'm on your side. Even at $100 for the OS, that only leaves $100 for hardware, and this is a pretty good deal on hardware for $100. You aren't going to get a full new PC for $100, especially not one in this small of a form factor.

Yeah, you're right.

I would rather take a barebone miniPC like a NUC or ASRock Beebox which would cost a little more but I would get better extensibility which could come in handy in the future and SD card slot should really be on this device.

I feel like barebone miniPCs already have limitations compared to PCs and this device has even more limitations.

If you want more out of a NUC device (this is a NUC-based device, BTW), there are options, but they do cost more. This device, to me, exemplifies what NUC is really all about, and to further that idea, Intel has a very similarly-spec'd device as well.

The BeeBox wins for overall performance for sure... That nifty dual-channel ram really does make 4K playback possible, but a BeeBox costs significantly more (more than double) since the barebones Beebox (no ram, no drives, no OS) is priced within a few dollars of the LIVA X(squared). Anyway, since there are many options for such devices, I can only celebrate that every user has something that can meet their needs with an affordable price tag.