Ecs liva z plus review in Spanish (full analysis)

We are pleased to announce that we have a new sponsor on the website, nothing more and nothing less than the veteran ECS. This time we started with a mini PC ECS Liva Z Plus that equips an Intel Core i5-7300U processor, 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal storage and a Wi-Fi 802.11AC + Bluetooth 4.0 connection.

Do you want to know more about him? Don't miss our review!

Unboxing and design

ECS presents the ECS Liva Z Plus in a full color box with a very compact design. On its cover we come across an image of the product, and in the lower area all the characteristics and certifications that guarantee this new miniPC.

On one of the sides we have a sticker that indicates the main most important characteristics of the ECS Liva Z Plus. Although we will go into greater detail during the analysis.

What does it incorporate inside? Once we open the box we will find:

ECS Liva Z Plus External power supply and European power cable (in our case it is different) Screws for installation to the built-in VESA bracket.

The ECS Liva Z Plus It has dimensions of 117 x 128 x 33 mm and a weight of only about 320 grams with all the components mounted. Its design is super compact and reminds us a lot of the current high-end Intel NUC. As you can see the upper area is made of plastic and has a wave effect that is very pleasing to the eye.

As much for its design as for its composition, it is very appropriate to use it as a low-consumption desktop or, failing that, as a multimedia center in our living room on our 4K television. Smooth 4K? Insurance? Yes, having the integrated graphics card of the new generation Intel Kaby Lake is able to reproduce this resolution without any problem.

We focus on the front and we find an audio output for our helmets, a USB 3.1 Type C connector, three complementary USB 3.1 connections and a button to start and stop the equipment.

On both sides we find some grids that facilitate the extraction of hot air that the equipment can have.

After seeing the front, we have to look at the back of the ECS Liva Z Plus. We came across a mini Displayport connection, an HDMI connection, double LAN connection and a power input. I find it very successful that you choose to include all the USB connections on the front, as it is much more comfortable to remove.

In the previous area we find a sticker that indicates the exact model and serial number to process the warranty. To open the equipment is as simple as removing the four screws from each corner, everything is very fast and super intuitive.

Another advantage of this equipment is that we can hang it behind our monitor thanks to the VESA 100x x 100 bracket that comes standard.

Components and interior

Once we opened the computer, we found an Intel Core i5 7300U SOC processor based on the dual-core Intel Kaby Lake architecture. Its manufacturing process is 14nm and it runs at frequencies of 2.6 GHz (base), with a turbo it goes up to 3.5 GHz and a TDP of 15W.

Standard incorporates a 4GB 1.2V DDR4L RAM memory module with the possibility of installing a total of 32GB of DDR4 memory in the SO-DIMM sockets.

As a storage medium it has an SSD signed by Transcend, specifically the TS128GMTS400 model, which promises readings of 560 MB / s and write of 460 MB / s. Among its most particular characteristics is that it has a reduced format of 2242 mm, and this size is not very common in Europe (before a future update).

Among its connectivity it has an Intel Wifi 802.11 AC card that shares its Bluetooth 4.0 mode. It is important that to access the back of the motherboard, it is as simple as gradually removing the board (we do not need to loosen any screws) and we will have access to it. Although it is quite tedious, since there is a lot of wiring connected and we must point where they all go.

Performance tests (Benchmark)

TESTING EQUIPMENT
Barebone	ECS Liva Z Plus
RAM	4 GB of serial RAM
SATA SSD disk	SSD as standard.

We have left all the standard equipment, that is, with its 4 GB of RAM and the 120 GB of SSD. We have chosen to install Windows 10 Home and our most used applications for our test bench.

Additionally we have installed the KODI multimedia system in Windows. Although ECS already warns us that this equipment is 100% functional with Ubuntu 16.04. The results have been magnificent, since we have been able to reproduce without any problem videos in 4K and 1080 resolution with high bitrate.

Special mention to the new integrated graphics card Intel HD 620 allows to move with ease almost any resolution at desktop and video level. We believe that both this model and the i3 compensate for basic and multimedia center tasks.

We also find it interesting that you see the performance offered by the SSD in this compact system. Nothing to envy any desktop computer.

Regarding the temperature at rest, the processor is at just 30º at rest, while when stress tests are performed (maximum performance) it rises to 71ºC. While consumption we have about 18 W in total at rest and about 30W at maximum power.

Final words and conclusion about ECS Liva Z Plus

The ECS Liva Z Plus is a MiniPC with a very pleasing design to the eye and with some very interesting technical characteristics: Intel Core i5-7300U processor, 4 GB of RAM (Expandable up to 32GB), 120 GB of SSD and very quiet cooling.

We have decided to use the equipment in three very common environments:

Office automation and design: In basic office automation tasks and in graphic design (Photoshop for example) it has been defended great. And it has nothing to envy for basic equipment that costs significantly more. Games: By using a graphics card built into the processor, it doesn't make it the perfect candidate for gaming. But the performance has been more than remarkable in games like Dota or LoL. This is ideal for those users who do not want to spend. Multimedia Center: We have tested both VLC and Kodi with files with 4K and 1080p resolution with high bitrate. The reproduction is fantastic and at no time have we had micro-jumps.

As we can see it is a compact equipment that can serve us for many scenarios. Although possibly its ideal place is to be used as a multimedia center next to a home television. Another advantage is that it is fully compatible with Ubuntu 16.04 and Windows 10 without the need to install extra drivers. How good does this sound!

Although its great drawback we can find it is that it limits us to install an M.2 2242 SSD. Leaving sizes like 2280 without the possibility of installation (the ones that we find most commonly).

Its price and availability in Spain is still unknown. But if the sample has arrived, surely it will not take long to appear. We assume that its price will be very similar to Intel's Intel NUC series, so it will be inexpensive and affordable for most mortals.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ DESIGN.	- ONLY SUPPORT M.2 SSD DISKS 2242 AND NO POSSIBILITY TO INSTALL A 2.5 ″ DISK FOR DATA.
+ LOW SOUND.	- DOES NOT INCLUDE WINDOWS LICENSE
+ GREAT VARIETY OF FRONT AND REAR CONNECTIONS.
+ INCORPORATES SSD AND 4 GB OF RAM MEMORY.
+ COMPATIBLE WITH UBUNTU AND WINDOWS 10.