ECS Liva X Mini PC packs quite the punch with Intel's Bay Trail-M. Let's have a look at this low-powered and silent wonder.
We ended up with the 32GB version with 2GB RAM. It has a Celeron N2808 Bay Trail-M processor which we've started seeing in more and more Small Form Factor machines.
The packaging contains the bare essentials. Aside from the Mini-PC we get a VESA mounting plate, user manual, driver disk, quick start guide and the power adapter with interchangeable plugs for Type C and Type G.
The front of the ECS is quite simple with just one power button which sits flush with the surface and three USB sockets of which one is USB 3.0
The rear of the LIVA X has the two video adaptors(VGA and HDMI), Gigabit Ethernet port, power socket and an audio output.
The underside has removable feet with rubber rings that not only provide cushioning when placed on a surface but also when it is mounted on the back of a monitor using the VESA adaptor. There are ventilation slits on the sides and the bottom.
The VESA adaptor is suitable for 75 mmx75 mm and 100 mmx100 mm configurations. Here, we are using a monitor that makes use of the VESA D-mount (100 mmx100 mm).
The LIVA X Mini-PC slides comfortably into the mount and the four rubber feet that we saw earlier keeps the device from rattling while mounted. If mounted as per the directions given in the manual, the top side opens up to a few ventilation slits and all the interfaces are directed sideways.
If you wish to service the LIVA X or expand the storage then you can access the PCB by removing the rubber feet. The bottom falls out and what remains is this thick heatsink that you see here. There are three thermal interface pads which sit on the SoC and the two RAM chips.
The Intel Bay Trail-M Celeron N2808 is flanked by two RAM chips on one side and an Azurewave NB087H adapter on the other. This mini-PCIe adapter makes use of an Ralink RT3209LE chip that gives it 802.11n Wi-Fi capability and Bluetooth 4.0. In terms of bandwith, it is a 1T1R chip that is capped at 150Mbps.
On the underside of the PCB we see where most of the connectivity options are actually wired to the device. Right below the VGA port we see that the LIVA X makes use of a 32GB SanDisk NAND and a little further down sits the mSATA expansion port. The centre of the PCB is devoid of active components since the SoC sits right behind this section and most of the heat is likely to be concentrated here.
Inside the body of the LIVA X lies another chassis which has two antennae attached to the topside. These are for the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and are kept at a good distance from each other as should be the case since both technologies operate in the vicinity of the 2.4GHz band.
We couldn't let a slideshow pass without giving the obligatory disassembly image. And here are the specifications:
Intel Bay Trail-M Celeron N2808,
Memory - 2GB DDR3L,
Expansion Slot - mSATA,
Storage - eMMC 32GB,
Audio - Realtek ALC283,
LAN - RTL8111G Gigabit Ethernet,
Ports - 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0,
Dimensions (LxWxD) – 135 mm x 83 x 40 mm,
Warranty - 3 years.