Solved TPM/PTT confusion

I am currently looking into a new build using:
ASUS Z590 M Plus board
i5 10600k or 11600k
According to the ASUS website, this board has a TPM header, meaning it needs a Module added.

I have always built my own computers, but this technology has never been on my radar... My current system is pretty old...

This is where I am confused. I'm sure this is basic knowledge to most on here, which is why I'm asking, but it's just an area that I think average or 'knows enough to be dangerous' users like me don't understand until they actually have some experience with it.
And an ASUS 14-1 TPM, if you can find one, is another $48 today


I am reading about PTT and TPM. If there is no TPM module installed (There is a header with no chip) is there a PTT option in the UEFI (BIOS), or is this something that is available only if the board comes with the chip onboard, or, if the board only has a header, a chip is installed ?
Is there a standard or will it be board specific?
Will PTT be the equivalent to TPM 2.0

A cliff notes explanation is fine, or point me to a website. I really appreciate any direction on this
Thanks

PTT (and hence Intel firmware TPM 2.0) is in Z590 chipset. So you will have it if the board BIOS exposes it, which I can't imagine it won't. if you look at the BIOS manual on the support page for that board you will find under PCH Configuration" (PCH = Z590 chipset) , PCH-FW with an option to use the chipset firmware TPM, or a separate plug-in one.

geneo said:

PTT (and hence Intel firmware TPM 2.0) is in Z590 chipset. So you will have it if the board BIOS exposes it, which I can't imagine it won.t.

Click to expand...

Thank you. This is what I thought I understood, but the presence of the header on the board caused me to question. I saw your full reply just now and now I understand it better. Thanks again.

gmemore said:

I am currently looking into a new build using:
ASUS Z590 M Plus board
i5 10600k or 11600k
According to the ASUS website, this board has a TPM header, meaning it needs a Module added.

I have always built my own computers, but this technology has never been on my radar... My current system is pretty old...

This is where I am confused. I'm sure this is basic knowledge to most on here, which is why I'm asking, but it's just an area that I think average or 'knows enough to be dangerous' users like me don't understand until they actually have some experience with it.
And an ASUS 14-1 TPM, if you can find one, is another $48 today


I am reading about PTT and TPM. If there is no TPM module installed (There is a header with no chip) is there a PTT option in the UEFI (BIOS), or is this something that is available only if the board comes with the chip onboard, or, if the board only has a header, a chip is installed ?
Is there a standard or will it be board specific?
Will PTT be the equivalent to TPM 2.0

A cliff notes explanation is fine, or point me to a website. I really appreciate any direction on this
Thanks

Click to expand...

I'm looking to build a new PC too. I've now decided to wait a few months until Windows 11 is released to see what windows 11 certified motherboard are available. At least they should be supplied with TPM support and prices may have reduced by then post covid.

Note your chosen Asus board has a firmware TPM option so you don't need the hardware module.

Steve C said:

I'm looking to build a new PC too. I've now decided to wait a few months until Windows 11 is released to see what windows 11 certified motherboard are available. At least they should be supplied with TPM support and prices may have reduced by then post covid.

(snip)

Click to expand...

Are you prepared to believe Asus? Asus Windows 11 compatible motherboards

bobkn said:

Are you prepared to believe Asus? Asus Windows 11 compatible motherboards

Click to expand...

Yes, if they published that.

gmemore said:

I have always built my own computers, but this technology has never been on my radar... My current system is pretty old.

Click to expand...

Hi @gmemore
I've always built mine too, but it never crossed my mind to look for TPM headers on my motherboards.
As it turns out, the most recent motherboard I purchased has one. But there is another problem.
The GC-TPM2.0_S TPM module for my GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G is not available anywhere, and from my research, GIGABYTE have no intention of making it available.

So, the lesson for anyone intending on buying a new motherboard is ensure that your motherboard has a TPM header and ensure that TPM module stock is available. I would suggest buying the TPM module when you buy the motherboard to be safe.

Stigg said:

Hi @gmemore
I've always built mine too, but it never crossed my mind to look for TPM headers on my motherboards.
As it turns out, the most recent motherboard I purchased has one. But there is another problem.
The GC-TPM2.0_S TPM module for my GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G is not available anywhere, and from my research, GIGABYTE have no intention of making it available.

So, the lesson for anyone intending in buying a new motherboard is ensure that your motherboard has a TPM header and ensure that TPM module stock is available. I would suggest buying the TPM module when you buy the motherboard to be safe.

Click to expand...

True, but most new motherboards have a firmware TPM option

Steve C said:

True, but most new motherboards have a firmware TPM option

Click to expand...

That is right, Steve.

------------

An off topic question if I may. Notice the empty tables in your reply above. That was caused by copying and pasting text.
I've never seen that happen in a forum before.

How do I copy and paste text into a post without it creating a table every time?

Stigg said:

Hi @gmemore
I've always built mine too, but it never crossed my mind to look for TPM headers on my motherboards.
As it turns out, the most recent motherboard I purchased has one. But there is another problem.
The GC-TPM2.0_S TPM module for my GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G is not available anywhere, and from my research, GIGABYTE have no intention of making it available.

So, the lesson for anyone intending on buying a new motherboard is ensure that your motherboard has a TPM header and ensure that TPM module stock is available. I would suggest buying the TPM module when you buy the motherboard to be safe.

Click to expand...

According to the manual, the GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G includes PTT (platform trust technology), which is Intel's firmware TPM. It doesn't explicitly state that it's TPM 2.0. Simple enough to check: turn it on in the BIOS settings, and then run tpm.msc from a Windows command line.

Firmware TPMs seem to be the way the business is going. I'd have to study them more before I dared to use them with Bitlocker. (I'd worry about not being able to decrypt data if something happened to the motherboard.)

PTT is active on my Lenovo laptop. About the only thing I know about it is that my Windows 10 PIN is kept in it. (Clearing the PTT loses the PIN.)

Stigg said:

An off topic question if I may. Notice the empty tables in your reply above. That was caused by copying and pasting text.
I've never seen that happen in a forum before.

How do I copy and paste text into a post without it creating a table every time?

Click to expand...

Hi Stigg
Don't copy/paste. Click on "quote" in the lower right corner of the post. When it appears in your reply, click inside the quote and find the cursor. You can then edit out (backspace) everything but what you want to address in your reply, as I did with your reply above. Then click out of the quote box to type your reply.

Stigg said:

I've always built mine too, but it never crossed my mind to look for TPM headers on my motherboards.
As it turns out, the most recent motherboard I purchased has one. But there is another problem.
The GC-TPM2.0_S TPM module for my GIGABYTE X299X DESIGNARE 10G is not available anywhere, and from my research, GIGABYTE have no intention of making it available.

Click to expand...

This is how I came to question PTT (firmware) or Discrete (header and add-on). My current board is an H87 ASUS board. It does have a header, but it does not appear to have an option for PTT. I tried changing several settings to see if it would become visible but no.
It wouldn't matter if it did because it is 4th gen Intel, probably not ever going to qualify, no matter how 'generous' MS gets in relaxing the cutoff. I tend to drive a PC like I do my car - 'till the wheels fall off' (current rig replaced a 10 yr old nforce 730i). My current rig runs just fine for me right now, but testing 11 has me GASsing for new hardware, so I needed clarification on built in TPM

Stigg said:

So, the lesson for anyone intending on buying a new motherboard is ensure that your motherboard has a TPM header and ensure that TPM module stock is available. I would suggest buying the TPM module when you buy the motherboard to be safe.

Click to expand...

When the news of Windows 11 first came out, TPM modules were practically a dime a dozen on amazon. When the leaked build came out, I searched again - they vanished. I saw one yesterday that "fits" my current board, can't even remember where now, probably 'Joe's PC pick-a-part online emporium' or some such, and it was $48 + shipping. $10-15 is 'let's play with this and see what happens'. $50-60 is a ram upgrade or CPU cooler for a new build that I need anyway.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me on this.

I first joined on Seven forums and have tagged along for the education ever since. My questions are usually answered before I even knew I had them. The people on here are truly great and the sharing of your knowledge is invaluable!

BTW, I pulled the trigger on the new setup yesterday. Now, let's see if the Prime truck gets here before Tropical Storm Elsa...

gmemore said:

This is how I came to question PTT (firmware) or Discrete (header and add-on). My current board is an H87 ASUS board. It does have a header, but it does not appear to have an option for PTT. I tried changing several settings to see if it would become visible but no.
It wouldn't matter if it did because it is 4th gen Intel, probably not ever going to qualify, no matter how 'generous' MS gets in relaxing the

Click to expand...

I believe Intel introduced PTT in the chipsets in the 7th generation (Z170, H170 etc. chipsets). This is why you don't see the option in your H87 MB BIOS. So practically any 7th gen or newer chipsetswill have PTT. Whether it is 2.0, I don't know. Maybe 7th gen doesn't have 2.0 and that is why they have qualified only 8th gen and newer processors.

geneo said:

I believe Intel introduced PTT in the chipsets in the 7th generation (Z170, H170 etc. chipsets). This is why you don't see the option in your H87 MB BIOS. So practically any 7th gen or newer chipsetswill have PTT. Whether it is 2.0, I don't know. Maybe 7th gen doesn't have 2.0 and that is why they have qualified only 8th gen and newer processors.

Click to expand...

If this is to be believed, PTT was introduced in 2013 on some 4th generation CPUs and chipsets. Intel PTT My Lenovo laptop, with a Gen 6 CPU, has PTT. It presents TPM version 2.0.

Yes, but I think it wasn't across pretty much all SKU until Gen 7. My wife's 7th Gene is TPM 2.0, so I reckon all, if not most, PTT TPM are 2.0.

Here's an article about TPM and PTT.

All the Motherboards That Support TPM for Windows 11 | Digital Trends

I've an HP laptop with Gen 6 intel CPU -- from around 2016 -- TPM V2 is enableable within the Bios.

jimbo45 said:

I've an HP laptop with Gen 6 intel CPU -- from around 2016 -- TPM V2 is enableable within the Bios.

Click to expand...

Like me (post 14), except mine is from Lenovo.

PTT was enabled by default. My Windows 10 PIN is stored there.

I have a Z590 Asus board and the TPM/PTT is included with the motherboard. My wife has a Z270 Prime A and I had to add the chip on the board and it works flawlessly. I still think that this is a cash grab but hey, a lot of are still surprised that we can install Windows 10 on 10-12 year old computers.

How does it make it a cash grab when Microsoft doesn't have anything to do with the manufacture and distribution of these TPM AIBs?