If you are going shopping for a TPM 2.0 module, here are some things to know

I've learned some things about TPM modules that you may want to know if you need to go shopping for one.

1) There is NOT a standard pinout for TPM modules. As a result, a 14-pin TPM for an ASUS MB will NOT work in an MSI MB. Make sure that you obtain one from the same manufacturer as your MB. Yes, I destroyed one TPM module because I saw advice saying that an ASUS TPM was compatible with an MSI MB. Guess what? It wasn't

2) Even within the same manufacturer, you still need to be careful. For example, newer MBs have moved to a different interface type (an SPI bus) for the TPM modules. Because of this, a 14-pin OLDER TPM may not work in a newer MB even though it too has a 14-pin connector and vice versa.

Check your USER guide. If it indicates that the TPM header is an SPI TPM header, make sure the module you purchase is an SPI TPM module.

Note that there are different numbers of pins as well. Not all TPMs have the same number of pins.

3) Even the same part number may not be compatible between systems! For example, for my older MSI MB, MSI has at least 2 TPM modules that it refers to in shorthand in various places as a "4136" model. However, there is a difference when you look at the full part numbers:

914-4136-103
914-4136-105

The first part is a TPM 1.2 module that cannot be upgraded to 2.0. The second part is a TPM 2.0 module with upgradable FW.

4) For newer MBs, check your UEFI FW settings. Many of the new MBs have a firmware TPM built-in. Even MBs with a TPM header may have this so you can opt to use it rather than a hardware TPM. The disadvantage: It is my understanding from what I have read, that when a UEFI FW update is performed, you may loose the current TPM data which will require a recovery key to be entered. Not difficult, but a little bit of a pain in the keister. I can't confirm whether any older chipsets support FW TPM, but I know that some Intel 400 series and 500 series MBs support this.

I found all this stuff out the hard way. Burned up one TPM and also have a module that has no FW upgradability from 1.2 to 2.0.

Sigh. Nothing is ever easy.

If anyone has any more info people should be aware of, please add on to this thread.

Is it possible that they are compatible with certain mobos?

As for the rest - good info!

Thanks for sharing this great information.

You might think TPM modules are designed to have a common interface but they are not. My Gigabyte motherboard takes a 20 pin TPM 1.2 module but Gigabyte no longer sell these. I did find only one 20 pin TPM module on eBay from Foxconn but there are differences in some pins on the connectors.

And you might also check your UEFI setup for software TPM (yes, it's a thing: https://trustedcomputinggroup.org/wp-content/uploads/TPM-2.0-A-Brief-Introduction.pdf ) before you actually go out and but a hardware module you may not need.

See @Ghot's excellent post also: Win 11 - PC Health Check Tool - How I passed.