Even though the LIVA Z3 Plus on display at Computex looked identical to other LIVA models that are available right now, a closer look at the specs sheet provided by ECS reveals the fact that this upcoming model is powered by a next gen Intel Core CPU. Since we are in the realm of mini PCs, the “next gen” CPU is clearly an ultra low-voltage model, and, according to Japanese site Hermitage Akihabara, it is part of the rumored Comet Lake family, which is supposed to replace the current gen Whiskey Lake one. An alleged Comet Lake-U quad-core CPU was recently spotted in Geekbench, but its performance was not at all impressive. It is still using 14 nm tech and will probably end up just a tad bit faster than current Whiskey Lake counterparts.
Regarding the other specs of the Liva Z3 Plus, users will be able to add up to 16 GB of DDR4-2400 RAM distributed over 2 SO-DIMMS, and, as far as storage solutions are concerned, there will be two versions: one with an M.2 SSD slot and support for Intel Optane memory, and one that has an additional 2.5” HDD bay. The variant without the HDD bay measures 5 x 4.6 x 1.3 inches.
Other features include:
• WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2
• dual Gigabit LAN
• HDMI 2.0 and microDiplsayPort video outputs
• Support for Amazon Alexa via 4 x directional mics
• Ports: audio combo jack, 3x USB-A 3.0, 1x USB-C 3.0
Availability and pricing are currently unknown, but Hermitage Akihabara claims it is scheduled to go on sale in 2020.
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I first stepped into the wondrous IT&C world when I was around seven years old. I was instantly fascinated by computerized graphics, whether they were from games or 3D applications like 3D Max. I'm also an avid reader of science fiction, an astrophysics aficionado, and a crypto geek. I started writing PC-related articles for Softpedia and a few blogs back in 2006. I joined the Notebookcheck team in the summer of 2017 and am currently a senior tech writer mostly covering processor, GPU, and laptop news.
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2019 06 > ECS showcases Liva Z3 Plus mini PC with Intel Comet Lake CPUs
Bogdan Solca, 2019-06- 4 (Update: 2019-08- 5)