Dell not shipping Gaming PC's to California?

5 points by bifrost 5y ago ↗ HN

I was browsing through the Dell Alienware website since I want to buy a new PC. Naturally if I want a GTX3060ti or better but I discovered that Dell won't sell me a PC with that in it since I live in California. I got a non-answer out of Dell support so I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this?

I feel like a criminal or something; I can't buy something thats perfectly legal...

11 comments

[ 5.7 ms ] story [ 39.8 ms ] thread

PaulHoule 5y ago ↗

Why California?

bifrost 5y ago ↗

The support person said it was due to "Standby power". It seems extremely bogus to me TBH.

Dartan 5y ago ↗

If you look closely the california one has "CEC" in the url. That's the California Energy Commission. Tier 2 starts pretty soon.

throayobviousl 5y ago ↗

Its california, so some useless regulation for sure

pinewurst 5y ago ↗

It's true, but they don't explain it:

"This product cannot be shipped to the State of California."

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-a...

pinewurst 5y ago ↗

https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care/Extremely-disap...

Replying to myself - a little research claims it's "surprise!" a CA regulatory thing about mandated sleep settings.

bifrost 5y ago ↗

I'm assuming/hoping there'll be a button to click to undo that. Typical California regulations.... All flash and no substance.

dragonwriter 5y ago ↗

There are separate catalog entries for the R12, one of which has the note “Complies with California Energy Commission requirements” and has a slightly higher base price.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-a...

vs.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-a...

bifrost 5y ago ↗

Thats sorta weird, they're slightly different builds too.

Dartan 5y ago ↗

Basically it's the HDD vs. SSD.

c_o_n_v_e_x 5y ago ↗

California has energy regs that pertain to "upgradeable PCs" (if I remember the terminology correct). This is one reason why Intel is now pushing the ATX12VO standard. By doing so, the computer power supply is theoretically more efficient by getting rid of the 3.3V and 5V rails, forcing those supplies to be on the motherboard instead of being within a traditional ATX supply.