The world of new technologies has proven many times that it is not worth judging a book by its cover. Or rather a computer after its size. Today we are taking a miniature set from ECS to the workshop, which in a small housing houses a 10-core 13th generation Intel Core processor, replaceable RAM and space for a classic M.2 SSD.
Computer sets are associated with large equipment in Mid Tower cases, which take up a lot of space. This is why laptops are becoming more and more popular, and many people now browse the Internet only from their phones. This is hardly surprising when both of these solutions are much more mobile and handy. What if I told you that a PC can take up even less space than a laptop? And you don’t need any specialized knowledge or spending a lot of money.
ECS Liva Z5 Plus uses 13th generation Intel Core
There are small, ready-made computer kits available on the market called simply Mini PC. You can also search for them under a phrase “SFF” (Small Form Factor). Depending on the manufacturer and model, we get different shapes, sizes and weights. Most of them can be successfully mounted behind the monitor, so that nothing is visible on the desk. Today we are taking a look at the latest proposal from the company ECS.
ECS is a Taiwanese manufacturer operating on the market since 1987. It is certainly well known by older Telepolis readers, because their cheap motherboards were once very popular in Poland. ECS is an OEM manufacturer, which also produces equipment for other companies. In the past it was among others Lenovo, HP Whether Acer. Currently, the Taiwanese offer still includes motherboards, but also Mini PCs, ready-made sets for gamers, All in One computers, IPC devices and… chargers for electric cars.
ECS Liva Z5 Plus is equipment that officially debuted in mid-March 2024. It is a small computer with dimensions 148 x 120 x 38 millimeters and mass 570 grams. The heart of the device are processors Intel Raptor Lake-U in Core i3, i5 and i7 versions. Plus we’re talking about memories RAM DDR4 and the medium SSD PCIe 4.0 x4. The exact specification depends on the specific model. The whole thing can of course support standard operating systems such as Windows Whether Linux.
ECS Liva Z5 Plus
- Dimensions: 148 x 120 x 38 millimeters
- Time: 570 grams
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1335U (10R/12W; 3,4 GHz/4,6 GHz)
- RAM: 2x 8 GB DDR4-3200
- Internal storage: SSD PCIe 4.0 x4 256 GB
- Available connectors: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 typu C, 2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 2x RJ-45, jack 3,5 mm
- Accessories: 90 W power supply, VESA adapter
- Other: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, CEC, Kensington Lock
- Cena: approx. PLN 2,499
Construction and equipment
The tested computer makes very good first impression. It is small and light, but very solidly made. We are dealing here with a fully metal casing and rubber feet. The whole thing closely resembles computers no longer available on the market Intel NUC. The packaging itself is a classic cardboard box with black prints. Inside, apart from a Mini PC, we get: external power supply 90 W and VESA 100 mounting adapter. Everything in separate compartments.
On the front of the case we get USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C with image transfer function, three classic USB 3.2 Gen 1 and a headphone connector. There is also an illuminated switch. Both sides are basically just vents plus space for Kensington Lock security. On the back there are two HDMI 2.0b connectors (one with CEC), one DisplayPort 1.4, two RJ-45 and a power connector for the included power supply.
As mentioned earlier, ECS Liva Z5 Plus computers are available in several versions various hardware configurations, including the “barebone” variant (without RAM and SSD). Our test unit is representative of the mid-segment. The processor used offers 10 cores in the configuration: 2 large, high-performance P-type cores and 8 small, energy-saving E-type cores. The base clock is 3.4 GHz and up to 4.6 GHz in Turbo mode. It works with the integrated graphics system Intel Iris Xe Graphicswhich is equipped with 80 executive units.
When it comes to RAM modules and semiconductor media, these are standards SO-DIMM (as in laptops) and M.2 2280. Access to slots is simple and quick. The manufacturer used branded components, although their names will be unknown to most people – this is equipment typically for the OEM market. We’re talking about memories from ACPI and SSD from Foresee (Longsys).
The sound codec is Realtek ALC 256, so unfortunately nothing fancy, but enough for work or movies and TV series. The network layer looks much more interesting. We get both a network card here Intel AX211 from wireless communication Wi-Fi 6E i Bluetooth 5.3but also two controllers Intel I226V (2.5 GbE).
Performance tests
We performed performance tests on the system Windows 11 updated to the latest version. All unnecessary programs running in the background (e.g. Microsoft OneDrive) were disabled. We used a standard set of measurement applications. This includes, among others, CPU-Z, Cinebench, CrystalDiskMark Whether 3DMark. All in the latest versions at the time of publication. There are also classic programs such as Mozilla Firefox and Netflix.
What catches your attention first is this limited RAM. The computer supports up to 64 GB, but it’s all about speed. The included modules are a DDR4-3200 solution, offering 3200 MT/s. However, the tested Mini PC uses them at 2666 MT/s and this is not the fault of the processor, which supports up to 3200 MT/s. So we’re left with the issue of the BIOS, which unfortunately is heavily locked. Although most users won’t even notice itbut I hope this will be corrected in a software update – it’s free performance.
When it comes to regular PC use such as browsing the Internet, watching movies and series, or doing office work I have no objections here. A browser with several dozen open tabs, VoD services and local video materials in 4K resolution were handled without any problems. The office package also launched smoothly, including large text files and spreadsheets.
I was positively surprised by the included SSD. The capacity is not great – 256 GB, but the rest of the specifications look much better. A controller was used here Silicon Motion SM2269XTF and we observe an average of 4775 MB/s for reading and 2075 MB/s for writing. This means quickly copying data, launching applications or loading documents.
And what about gaming? For an integrated graphics system, it is pretty goodat least as long as we stick to online titles and older games. League of Legends in Full HD resolution and very high settings it is over 150 FPS when it is calm and about 120 FPS during fights. IN Teamfight Tactics and in the same profile we are talking about constant 100 FPS. GTA 5 on medium-high settings it’s about 32 FPS, and Fallout 4 on medium is about 30 FPS. But Total War: Warhammer III or The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are unplayable – below 30 FPS (approximately 18 and 24 FPS respectively).
Results in benchmarks such as Cinebench Whether 3DMark confirm good performance of the processor used. However, this is mainly due to high clock speeds, as it is clearly visible that more large cores would be useful here. Personally, I would prefer 4P+4E instead of the 2P+8E configuration. Especially since there is a lot of stock here…
Temperatures, work culture and power consumption
In terms of ECS temperatures, the Liva Z5 Plus performs very well. At an ambient temperature of 24°C, I recorded values of about 41°C at rest and while browsing the Internet, about 55°C while gaming and maximum 62°C under full load. And all this while really enjoying it good work culture.
The cooling system used is simple – one heat pipe, a small radiator and a fan from Cooler Master. And although there is no option to control the RPM, I recorded the maximum here do 42,4 dB(A). We carried out loudness measurements using Benetech GM1356 decibel meter (class 2) from a distance of 50 cm.
And power consumption? Again, there’s nothing to complain about – you won’t spend much on electricity bills. During rest it was approx 16,3 Wand in games and benchmarks we did not exceed the limit 37,6 W. That’s less than many laptops. So there’s quite a bit of headroom considering that The included power supply offers up to 90 W. Unfortunately, if you’re thinking about OC, I’ll tell you right away that the BIOS is locked. At most, you can play with the default power consumption limits.
Summary
ECS Liva Z5 Plus is a very interesting and successful device. A complete computer set is enclosed in an inconspicuous, small housing, which will be enough for most users. Of course, it is not a gaming beast or a full-fledged workstation, but a processor Intel Core i5-1335U copes very well with office work, the Internet and entertainment – movies, series, older games and online titles. Here we have the opportunity to upgrade both RAM and SSD memory, just unscrew the four screws. We are talking about popular standards such as SO-DIMM and M.2 2280.
The tested Mini PC has an extensive set of modern connectors. It can connect up to four monitors here. Connectivity issues are also well resolved – two 2.5 Gbps network cards and a module WiFi 6E i Bluetooth 5.3. Due to low temperatures, good work culture and low power consumption, the equipment is suitable for both home and office use.
Is ECS Liva Z5 Plus perfect equipment? NO. Enthusiasts will probably be hurt by this BIOS is hard locked. Of course, no one is talking about overclocking here, but it would be nice to be able to control the cooling system or access RAM settings. Especially when we get DDR4-3200 modules and the computer uses them as DDR4-2666, so it does not use its full capabilities. It’s also not a PC for playing new games.
Despite the official premiere in mid-March, ECS Liva Z5 Plus is still hard to find in Polish stores. The suggested price of our test unit is: manufacturer $630, i.e approximately PLN 2,499. Like a little cook it’s a good price. Of course, if you look on AliExpress, you can get slightly more powerful configurations at a similar price (e.g. Intel Core i5-1340P + 1 TB SSD), but mainly from “short-list companies” and without any warranty. However, if size is not important to you or you are not afraid of assembling a PC yourself, a classic “stove” will be cheaper.
ECS Liva Z5 Plus
Rating: 8.5/10
Advantages:
- Possibility to replace RAM and SSD
- Compact dimensions and weight
- 4K video support
- Lots of modern connectors
- Good CPU performance
- Good work culture
- Low temperatures
- Low power consumption
- VESA mounting
Defects:
- Low availability in stores
- Blocked RAM
- Low iGPU performance
- BIOS locked
Photo source: Telepolis / Przemysław Banasiak
2024-03-31 14:03:00
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