ECS LIVA Core Review: A Fanless Core M mini-PC
by Ganesh T S on October 7, 2015 8:00 AM ESTThe desktop PC market has been subject to many challenges over the last few years. However, the miniaturization trend (including the introduction of the ultra-compact form factor - UCFF - NUCs) has provided some bright spots. Compact PCs have been around in the mini-ITX form factor for a relatively long time now. Manufacturers have been targeting other form factors such as the NUC and the Compute Stick also. We covered the various options briefly earlier this year. One of the form factors being promoted by Intel and its partners is the 'Mini Lake' reference design coming in at 102 x 64 mm. ECS has been using this form factor in its LIVA line of PCs. This form factor is usually reserved for Atom-based units. However, ECS is looking to use a Core M processor in the same form factor in the ECS LIVA Core.
Introduction and Setup Impressions
The success tasted by the Intel NUCs in the desktop PC market has prompted many motherboard vendors to create similar UCFF PCs. Instead of going with the NUC form factor, ECS has tried to differentiate itself with the Mini Lake reference design form factor. This is smaller than the standard NUC, but comes at a cost. Created in anticipation of applicability to Atom-based computers, the reference design called for soldered DRAM and eMMC storage. ECS followed this mantra dutifully in the LIVA, LIVA X and LIVA X2. With the LIVA Core, ECS has stepped up the game. While the DRAM continues to be soldered on to the motherboard, we now have a bonafide upgradable SSD instead of eMMC. Instead of the anemic Atom, we have a Core processor in the form of Core M. As a brief recap, Core M is the branding created by Intel for the Y-series processors (TDP of less than 5W meant for fanless tablets) starting with Broadwell. Core M has seen adoption in a number of fanless 2-in-1 designs. What can it bring to consumers in the UCFF desktop PC form factor? This review attempts to provide an answer.
The specifications of our ECS LIVA Core review configuration are summarized in the table below.
ECS LIVA Core Specifications | |
Processor | Intel Core M 5Y10c Broadwell-Y, 2C/4T, 0.8 GHz, 14nm, 4MB L2, 4.5W TDP, 3.5W SDP |
Memory | 4x 8Gb (4GB) DDR3L-1600 |
Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 5300 |
Disk Drive(s) | 120GB Intel SSD 535 M.2 SATA SSD |
Networking | 1x 1GbE Realtek RTL8168 + 1x1 Intel Wireless-AC 3165 802.11ac |
Audio | Capable of 5.1/7.1 digital output with HD audio bitstreaming (HDMI) |
Operating System | Retail unit is barebones, but we used Windows 10 Home |
Pricing (As configured) | $453 |
Full Specifications | ECS LIVA Core Specifications |
In addition to the main unit, the other components of the package include a 65 W (19V @ 3.43A) adapter, interchangeable UK, US and EU power plugs for the adapter, a VESA mount (along with the necessary screws), a driver CD, user's manual and a quick-start guide. The gallery below takes us around the package and the hardware in the unit.
It is not necessary to take the base off the unit, unless one wants to upgrade the internal M.2 SSD or replace the WLAN adapter. It is likely that this option is not going to be exercised by any user, since those components have more than enough performance for a PC in this form factor. In any case, we see a big thermal pad along the length of the M.2 SSD to aid in heat dissipation. It is placed in direct touch with the metal base of the unit.
Readers interested in a closer look at the heat sink and other internal parts of the ECS LIVA Core can peruse some pictures collected by FanlessTech in the post here.
In the table below, we have an overview of the various systems that we are comparing the ECS LIVA Core against. Note that they may not belong to the same market segment. The relevant configuration details of the machines are provided so that readers have an understanding of why some benchmark numbers are skewed for or against the ECS LIVA Core when we come to those sections.
Comparative PC Configurations | ||
Aspect | ECS LIVA Core | |
CPU | Intel Core M-5Y10c | Intel Core M-5Y10c |
GPU | Intel HD Graphics 5300 | Intel HD Graphics 5300 |
RAM | SKHynix H5TC8G63AMR-PBA 8Gb x16 DDR3L 11-11-11-28 @ 1600 MHz 4 x 8 Gb (4 GB) |
SKHynix H5TC8G63AMR-PBA 8Gb x16 DDR3L 11-11-11-28 @ 1600 MHz 4 x 8 Gb (4 GB) |
Storage | Intel SSD 535 Series SSDSCKJW120H6 (120 GB; M.2 Type 2280 SATA 6Gb/s; 16nm; MLC) |
Intel SSD 535 Series SSDSCKJW120H6 (120 GB; M.2 Type 2280 SATA 6Gb/s; 16nm; MLC) |
Wi-Fi | Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (1x1 802.11ac - 433 Mbps) |
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (1x1 802.11ac - 433 Mbps) |
Price (in USD, when built) | $453 | $453 |
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Pissedoffyouth - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
What's the Linux support like? I'd want one to use as a main desktop PCJaybus - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
The relatively new AC 3165 WLAN chip is supported in kernels 4.1+. With older kernels an Intel driver will be needed. I'm not sure of the exact minimum kernel version that the Intel driver supports. All of the other hardware should be supported in recent distros.WJames65 - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
Nice to see Anandtech providing small footprint "mini PC" reviews. I just ordered a MSI cube with a Broadwell CPU. To the user who noted no H.265 support, Intel added driver support to Haswell and Broadwell months ago. The author of this review didn't mention H.265 support, and did not test it. Perhaps, another review or an update will include H.265 testing.ganeshts - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
Please note the final paragraph in the HTPC Aspects section. HEVC decode (even hybrid acceleration) is NOT supported in the Broadwell Core M SKUs.WJames65 - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
Yeah, I see that line in the HTPC section. However, Intel says otherwise: http://techreport.com/news/27677/new-intel-igp-dri...WJames65 - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
This is interesting... According to Intel, only those CPUs with Iris 5500 or later have hardware accelerated H.265. Glad my mini-PC has such a GPU. :) See here: https://communities.intel.com/thread/59216Bob Todd - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
I replaced a much larger HTPC with one of the cheap and tiny ECS LIVA units (dual core Bay Trail-M, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, 2GB RAM, 32GB emmc). For $99 it has proven to be a great little streamer for the modest needs in our bedroom. Low tdp. No fan . No blinding blue LEDs to disconnect.Einy0 - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
I've been using the same unit in my living room for about a year now. The latest release of Windows 10 insider has nearly broken the Netflix app completely. I may have to move on to another platform or go back to Windows 8.1.Pissedoffyouth - Wednesday, October 7, 2015 - link
And what did we learn today about using alpha software?Gigaplex - Thursday, October 8, 2015 - link
Windows 10 insider program is not alpha. It's more like a cross between beta and release candidate.