Dell is unable to ship many of its gaming desktops to California and other states due to new energy consumption regulations. Other manufacturers say they are not experiencing the same problem.
Tom’s Hardware reached out to Acer, Lenovo, MSI, and the CEC executive director, and each had something to say regarding Dell’s claims. Acer stated that it has full compliance with all of its desktops made or shipped after July 1, 2021, while Lenovo said it was not facing any restrictions with its Legion desktops.
MSI systems product management director Clifford Chun said that most issues can be resolved through motherboard and BIOS settings. He added that MSI is still shipping motherboards made before July to states with the new regulations, but due to component shortages, newer boards with new designs would not be available until August.
The majority of contention revolves around tables V-7 and V-8 in California’s 690-point code. DIY PCs do not fall under these regulations.
These regulations were developed in 2016 to address energy use when computers are idle, wasting energy and millions of dollars… They were designed with input and involvement from industry, including Dell, to be flexible. The Energy Commission is confident consumer choice remains strong with modifications and options available on the market today. As with all regulations, the state invites manufacturers and retailers to continue to partner with us to create rules that meet customer needs while saving energy. – CEC executive director Drew Bohan
Sources: Tom’s Hardware, Energy Code Ace