Introduction

Elitegroup Computer Systems, known to most of us as ECS, was formed in 1987. From their humble beginnings, they have become an industry-leading OEM that not only manufactures a large number of products for themselves but other vendors as well. ECS currently offers mini-PCs, laptops, motherboards, tablets, and other IoT devices under their various brands and has expanded into a large number of markets. Even if you have never directly bought an ECS-branded product, it is still highly likely that you have used or owned one they manufactured. With each passing year, ECS continues to grow, offering a larger and more diverse portfolio of consumer products.


In today's review, I take a look at the ECS LIVA Z2. While similar to the LIVA Z and LIVA Q, this latest model is a bit larger. Even so, it remains extremely compact and with the ability to be mounted to a monitor or television set with its VESA mount. Its increased size also allows for a single 2.5" HDD bay for expanded storage. Meanwhile, the CPU sees an incremental upgrade to Intel's Pentium Silver N5000 quad-core processor based on the Goldmont Plus architecture. Finally, these tiny systems are capable of 4K @ 60 Hz thanks to the implementation of HDMI 2.0. Overall, this feels like a solid update to the product line, but before making any snap judgments, let's take a closer look.

Packaging and Contents

The LIVA Z2 comes in a small sleeved green box that is roughly 27.9 cm long, 22.0 cm wide, and 7.5 cm thick. The top shows off the system and and product names along with a few logos. Meanwhile, the bottom is completely black with the LIVA brand name and nothing else. There really isn't much to see on the packaging.


The left side gives a very quick and brief list of the system's specifications alongside the UPC label. Turning the box around, the right side, much like the bottom, just has the LIVA series name and nothing else. With so much unused space, I feel a bit more information could have been presented here. The four used panels are sparse at best, while the other two sides are of the green box and contain no information whatsoever. A general list of features would definitely be helpful here.


Opening the box shows the ECS LIVA Z2 sealed in plastic inside. No foam or other extra forms of protection aside from the box it comes in is visible. The accessories, power cord, etc., are placed in separate cardboard partitions.


The bundle is very much bare bones, but does include everything necessary to power up the system and mount it to the back of a TV. Unlike the previously reviewed LIVA Z units I have covered, this one does not include a driver disc, which makes sense considering it lacks an optical disc drive. Less waste in this regard is always a good thing. However, to replace the the driver disc, a small USB thumb drive with the drivers would have been nice.

• LIVA Z2
• Power brick
• VESA mounting plate
• VESA screws

A Closer Look

The top of the LIVA Z2 features two grooved segments with the LIVA logo in the center. Other than that, the top is fairly simple with no miscellaneous features or aspects to speak of. Flipping the system over, you will find four screws with rubber grommets that hold the chassis together while also acting as anti-slip feet. Said feet elevate the unit just by enough for airflow to reach the vents ECS positioned around the outer edge of the bottom plate. Some information, such as the unit's electrical rating, date of manufacture, and serial number can be found on the bottom as well.


Taking a look at the front, users will be happy to see three USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A ports and a USB 3.1 Gen1 Type C port. The headphone jack and power button are also present here, with the power button having a white LED when the system is in operation. A large vent is present on the left-hand side for improved airflow, which is good as this particular model is passively cooled.


On the back, users will find the power port, two HDMI ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a gigabit LAN port. It should be noted that the HDMI ports are version 1.4 and 2.0 respectively, meaning the ECS LIVA Z2 can in fact output 4K @ 60 Hz. ECS has included a Kensington security lock on the right side along with another vent for improved airflow.


The power adapter is from Asian Power Devices and is a 65 watt adapter with a rated output of 19 volts and 3.42 amps (model #DA-65C19).


Here, I have included a standard 140 mm case fan to show the side of the LIVA Z2 which measures in at 13.2 cm x 11.8 cm x 5.6 cm. So while the Z2 is a bit bigger than previous models, this larger size allows for a single 2.5" HDD bay, which makes for much cheaper storage expansion than the M.2 slot on the previous generation of LIVA Z units.


Mounting the unit to a monitor is exceptionally easy. The included VESA mount will work for 75 mm x 75 mm or 100 mm x 100 mm mounting options. All you need to do is screw the two mounting screws into the LIVA Z2 chassis. Then, mount the VESA plate to the monitor, line up the screws, and slide the LIVA Z2 into place. Quick and painless, it can be mounted to a TV or monitor in a matter of seconds.