Program for California Energy Commission1(CEC) Friendly Motherboards

CEC - Computers Energy Efficiency Standard

Overview

The CEC has put into place a market access energy efficiency standard for all computers that will be sold into California with the manufacturing date of January 1, 2019 or after. Starting in July 2021, Desktop and All-in-One computers will have a lower power/energy limit called Tier 2. All computers must meet this new standard and be registered with the CEC to be sold into the regions that have adopted this rule. As of April 2023, there are 10 other states plus a province in Canada that have adopted this regulation with various effective dates. There are also many others states that have legislation in process to copy this standard.

Ways to Meet These Requirements

There are currently two different way to meet these energy regulation requirements.

#1 - Classify the system as TEC(Power) Exempt. One way to do this is to utilize a motherboard that has an expandability score greater than 690. An expandability score is a numerical evaluation of how many ports and capabilities the motherboard features. For example, a full size PCIe x16 slot will add 75 points to the expandability score. To find out if a motherboard has an expandability score greater than 690, and therefore is exempt, you can reference the below list or calculate it using this excel worksheet.

#2 – Meet TEC (Power) requirements. If the motherboard has an expandability score ≤ 690 then the system will need to be assembled with components optimized for low idle power consumption. An example of a component optimized to meet these requirements are the new ATX12VO based motherboard and power supplies, that are very efficient at idle.

The MAEDBS database is how systems get registered for the CEC Computer Regulations. All computers sold in any state or country that has adopted CEC T2 must the registered by the effective date. For more details on the ways to meet exemption and register the systems download more details.

CEC Friendly Motherboard Program

The motherboards in this table have an expandability score greater than 690, and are exempt from meeting the idle energy power consumption requirements.

TEC Exempt Motherboard List (ES>690)
Updated: April 4, 2023

Vendor Model # Chipset Form Factor CEC Expandability Score PSU Support Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) Support
MSIMEG Z590 GODLIKEZ590EATX775ATX12VYes
MSIMEG Z590 ACEZ590ATX755ATX12VYes
MSIMEG Z590 ACE GOLD EDITIONZ590ATX755ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 GAMING CARBON WIFIZ590ATX735ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 CARBON EK XZ590ATX735ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 GAMING FORCEZ590ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 GAMING EDGE WIFIZ590ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 GAMING PLUSZ590ATX715ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z590 GAMING EDGE WIFI SPZ590ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIZ590 PRO WIFI (CEC)Z590ATX705ATX12VYes
MSIB560M PRO-VDH WIFI (CEC)B560uATX700ATX12VYes
MSIMEG Z690 UNIFYZ690ATX715ATX12VYes
MSIMEG Z690 UNIFY-XZ690ATX715ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z690 CARBON WIFIZ690ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z690 CARBON EK XZ690ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z690 FORCE WIFIZ690ATX725ATX12VYes
MSIMPG Z690 EDGE WIFI DDR4Z690ATX715ATX12VYes
MSIMAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFIZ690ATX705ATX12VYes
MSIMAG Z690 TORPEDOZ690ATX695ATX12VYes
MSIPRO Z690-A DDR4Z690ATX705ATX12VYes
MSIPRO Z690-A WIFI DDR4Z690ATX695ATX12VYes
MSIPRO Z690-AZ690ATX705ATX12VYes
MSIPRO Z690-A WIFIZ690ATX695ATX12VYes
MSIMEG Z690 GODLIKEZ690EATX810ATX12VYES
MSIMEG Z690 ACEZ690EATX815ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFI DDR4Z690ATX715ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z690 EDGE WIFIZ690ATX715ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z690 EDGE TI WIFIZ690ATX705ATX12VYES
MSIMAG Z690 TORPEDO EK XZ690ATX695ATX12VYES
MSIPRO B660M-A CEC WIFI DDR4B660uATX695ATX12VYES
MSIPRO B660M-A CEC WIFI B660uATX695ATX12VYES
MSIMEG Z790 ACEZ790EATX845ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z790 CARBON WIFIZ790ATX710ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z790 EDGE WIFIZ790ATX715ATX12VYES
MSIMPG Z790 EDGE WIFI DDR4Z790ATX715ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-A WIFI DDR4Z790ATX705ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-A WIFIZ790ATX705ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-P WIFIZ790ATX705ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-PZ790ATX695ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-P WIFI DDR4 Z790ATX705ATX12VYES
MSIZ790 PRO-P DDR4Z790ATX695ATX12VYES
MSIMEG Z790 GODLIKEZ790EATX820ATX12VYES
ASRockZ590 OC FormulaZ590EATX760ATX12VYes
ASRockZ590 TaichiZ590ATX725ATX12VYes
ASRockZ590 PG VelocitaZ590ATX695ATX12VYes
ASRockB560M-CB560uATX700ATX12VYes
ASRockZ590-C/axZ590ATX695ATX12VYes
ASRockZ590-C/acZ590ATX695ATX12VYes
GIGABYTEB560 DS3H ACB560ATX735ATX12VYes
GIGABYTEZ590 AORUS XTREME WATERFORCEZ590ATX710ATX12VYes
GIGABYTEZ590 AORUS XTREMEZ590ATX710ATX12VYes
GIGABYTEZ590 AORUS MASTERZ590ATX705ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS XIII EXTREME GLACIALZ590ATX840ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS XIII EXTREMEZ590ATX790ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS XIII HEROZ590ATX800ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS XIII APEXZ590ATX705ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z590-E GAMING WIFIZ590ATX695ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z590-F GAMING WIFIZ590ATX695ATX12VYes
ASUSProArt Z490-CREATOR 10GZ490ATX695ATX12VYes
ASUSPrime B560-PLUS AC-HESB560ATX710ATX12VYes
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIALZ690EATX720ATX12VYes
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREMEZ690EATX705ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULAZ690ATX740ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS Z690 HEROZ690ATX700ATX12VYes
ASUSPROART Z690-CREATOR WiFiZ690ATX745ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WiFiZ690ATX745ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z690-P WiFiZ690ATX710ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z690-P WiFi D4Z690ATX710ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z690-P Z690ATX710ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z690-P D4Z690ATX710ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME B660M-A AC D4B660uATX700ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS Z790 EXTREMEZ790EATX750ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEXZ790ATX725ATX12VYes
ASUSROG MAXIMUS Z790 HEROZ790ATX790ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFIZ790ATX775ATX12VYes
ASUSProArt Z790-Creator WIFIZ790ATX735ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFIZ790ATX715ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFIZ790ATX700ATX12VYes
ASUSROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4Z790ATX700ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z790-P WIFIZ790ATX720ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z790-PZ790ATX720ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z790-P WIFI D4Z790ATX720ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME Z790-P D4Z790ATX720ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME B760M-A AXB760micro-ATX700ATX12VYes
ASUSPRIME B760M-A AX D4B760micro-ATX700ATX12VYes

The motherboards in this table have an Expandability Score ≤690 & have been tested by Intel to meet Intel’s motherboard DC idle power requirements to be classified as CEC Friendly.

CEC Friendly Motherboard List
Updated: June 22, 2022

Vendor Model # Chipset # Form Factor CEC Expandability Score CEC Desktop Tier Meets PSU Support Date Testing Completed BIOS used for testing
ASRock H370M Pro4 H370 uATX 560 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 6/7/2018 AMI P1.20B (05-14-2018) / P1.20B
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 4 Z390 ATX 595 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 3/20/2019 AMI P1.30A (01-16-2019)
ASRock Z390 Pro4 Z390 ATX 595 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 4/2/2019 AMI P1.60A
ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR Z490 ATX 560 CEC Tier 2 ATX12VO (SR) 6/17/2020 L0.20 (05-15-2020) - Max Power Savings=Enabled
ASUS Prime Z490-S Z490 ATX 580 CEC Tier 2 ATX12VO (SR) 8/12/2020 AMI 0402 (03-05-2020) - Max Power Savings options
ASUS Prime Z490-P Z490 ATX 580 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 10/8/2020 AMI 2606 (10-24-2019) -Max Power Savings options
ASUS PRIME B560M-A B560 uATX 535 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 4/13/2021 AMI 0805 (03-29-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS TUF GAMING Z590-PLUS WIFI Z590 ATX 605 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 4/28/2021 AMI 0811 (04-07-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS TUF GAMING B560-PLUS WIFI B560 ATX 605 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 5/5/2021 AMI 0811 (04-06-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS WIFI B560 uATX 555 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 5/5/2021 AMI 0811 (04-06-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
MSI Z590 Pro 12VO Z590 ATX 570 CEC Tier 2 ATX12VO (SR) 5/10/2021 AMI 1.T2// E7D10IMS.1T2 (03-30-2021) - Max Power Saving Options
ASUS Pro H510M-CT/CSM H510 uATX 455 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 5/25/2021 AMI 0408 (05/12/2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS Pro B560M-CT/CSM B560 uATX 525 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 5/25/2021 AMI 0820 (04-27-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS Pro Q570M-C/CSM Q570 uATX 565 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 6/7/2021 AMI 0820 (04-27-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS Prime Z590-P Z590 ATX 605 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 6/8/2021 AMI 0811 (04-06-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS Prime H570M-PLUS H570 uATX 545 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 6/9/2021 AMI 0820 (04-27-2021) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
ASUS PRO B660M-C D4 B660 uATX 435 CEC Tier 2 ATX12V 2/18/2022 ASUS 1009 (02-07-2022) - BIOS option (Max Power Savings = Enabled)
MSI PRO H610M 12VO H610 uATX 365 CEC Tier 2 ATX12VO (SR) 6/22/2022 MSI E7D84IMS107-T2 (enable all Power Saving Features)

Download details on CEC Friendly Motherboard Program requirements including idle power consumption targets.

Intel has a power supply selector program which tests power supplies against the Intel Power Supply Design Guide standard. Power Supplies that meet Revision 1.4 standard (2017) or newer will help desktop computers to meet the CEC Computer Standard.  (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/resellers/psu-selector.html)

Important details and the Legal Disclaimer for the program:

  • CEC Computer Standard requires a Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) based limit for all computers sold into the State of California with a manufacturing date on or after January 1, 2019.
    • This TEC limit is for Complete Systems, and there are no specific guidelines for individual components in the computer from the CEC Computer Program.
  • Intel has developed Power Budgets for Desktop Computers based on the Expandability Score to come up with the program for CEC Friendly Motherboard Program.
    • The purpose of the program for CEC Friendly Motherboard Program is to help promote and educate LOEMs with energy efficient motherboard selections that when used in a computer system along with other energy efficient components is more likely to comply with the CEC computers TEC Limits.
    • Motherboards are one of the main power consuming components in a computer, and the CEC Computer Category system is based on the Expandability Score of the computer, which is almost completely derived from the motherboard expansion interfaces and inter-connects. Therefore, the motherboard attributes become the basis for the category allocation for the computer configuration and the TEC limits that scale with the expandability score which is a function of motherboard expandability attributes.
    • Participants of the program for CEC Friendly Motherboard Program will have motherboards tested in accordance with Intel-drafted testing document. (available upon request.) The test will only focus on motherboard power consumption values measured in DC Watts. The tested values will be compared with Intel developed power budgets. If the motherboard meets the DC Power values, it would be listed as a CEC Friendly Motherboard as part of the Intel program. Inclusion of a motherboard on the approved list itself does not guarantee that the computer configuration the motherboard is part of, will ultimately comply with the CEC Computers standard.
    • Conversely, a given computer configuration could still meet the CEC program requirements, even if the motherboard is not part of the Intel program or does not meet the Intel-developed power budget, if the system manufacturer has made the proper tradeoffs for other components selection. Examples include a lower power storage device like an SSD or a low load efficient power supply.
    • There are other components in the system that may not meet the appropriate power budget for the computer configuration to comply with the CEC standard. Every component in the computer is important to meet system level TEC Targets.
    • The program for CEC Friendly Motherboards is currently focused on CEC’s Tier I criteria. CEC criteria will change on July 1, 2021 when Tier II criteria goes into effect. This program as currently defined could not be used for Tier II criteria. Intel would announce its plan for a Tier II program in the future.
  • Additional background and limitations:
    • This program is not endorsed by the California Energy Commission.
    • This program is only available and validated for Intel® 300 Series chipset based motherboards.
    • No pre-release, non-production quality motherboards may be delivered to Intel as part of Intel’s CEC Friendly Motherboard Program.
    • To sell computers into the state of CA, even when a motherboard from the CEC Friendly Motherboard list is used in a computer, the system integrator is responsible for conducting the computer compliance test at the system level, and register the compliant system with the CEC program. http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/

1This is an Intel developed program to help customers comply with the CEC Computers Standard. This program is not associated with or endorsed by California Energy Commission
2Computer types shipping to California, that are exempt from TEC requirement have to comply with other CEC energy efficiency requirements starting January 1, 2018.