ECS Announces Next-Gen LIVA Z Mini-PC

First seen at Computex 2016, the next generation ECS’ LIVA Z Mini-PC equipped with Apollo Lake SoC has finally hit the market. As with previous ECS LIVA models, it is designed to be lightweight, compact and low-power consuming. Since it is equipped with Intel’s latest 14nm technology, the mini-PC is even more efficient when it comes to performance while consuming less. Apollo Lake quad-core processors offers 30 percent superior CPU performance and a 45 percent bump in graphics performance compared to Braswell SoCs.

Improving upon the GPU capabilities further, Apollo Lake natively supports HEVC/H.265 4K hardware-accelerated decoding and playback. Braswell in comparison is stressed beyond capability of running HEVC Ultra-HD 4K content, although capable it may be with standard H.264 1080p HD playback.

Apollo Lake is also capable of dual-channel DDR3L support up to 16GB. Storage capabilities have also been upgraded on the Apollo Lake platform, natively supporting M.2 with blazing 10Gbit/s speeds on a compact space. There is also dual 2.5″ SATA 6Gbps SSD/HDD space inside if users want to extend storage for videos and turn the LIVA Z into a home-theater PC. In addition to the internal storage, the LIVA Z also has USB 3.0 Type-C on the front with three extra USB 3.0 Type-A ports beside it.

An HTPC is not complete without any network connectivity function of course, so ECS has given the LIVA Z dual-Gigabit Ethernet and Intel 802.11AC/BT 4.0 features. Users can connect it to a monitor or TV via HDMI or Mini DisplayPort in the rear. A kiosk-mode version is also available called the LIVA ZE which as an 4x extra RS-232 video output connectors.

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