What is AMD CPU fTPM? Everything You Need to Know

What is AMD CPU fTPM?

Before delving into AMD CPU fTPM, you need to get a grasp of TPM. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a set of international standards for microprocessor security. Its main objective is to provide strong security for hardware.

There isn't just one kind of TPM (Trusted Platform Module) – there are five different versions, each with its own purpose and unique features. They provide security to the CPU hardware by using integrated encryption keys.

Here are the names of various types of TPMs.

• Discrete TPMs
• Integrated TPMs
• Hypervisor TPMs
• Software TPMs
• fTPMs

A Firmware Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) is a specific solution that runs in a secure environment on the CPU. The purpose of this TPM is to address vulnerabilities in processor firmware. Companies like AMD and Intel use fTPMs in their hardware security.

AMD fTPM (firmware Trusted Platform Module) is a type of trusted module that AMD offers for hardware-based security on its CPUs. This module is embedded within the system firmware, rather than being offered as a separate chip. Essentially, AMD fTPM can be seen as an extension of a regular or standard TPM (Trusted Platform Module), which typically comes in the form of a microchip.

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How does AMD fTPM work?

As a computer user, you have likely encountered issues starting up your device. Typically, without a BitLocker password, users cannot boot their device. A standard TPM will not allow access to and decryption of the boot drive without the password.

AMD's fTPM solves this annoyance by allowing you to decrypt your boot drive without a password. All you have to do is check your BIOS settings and enable the fTPM on your AMD processor.

This allows you to decrypt the boot drive without a password and re-encrypt it. This is the only way to enable fTPM on an AMD motherboard and easily re-encrypt the boot drive. Essentially, the AMD fTPM provides the user with the convenience of handling the machine without having to enter a password each time.

Comparison between AMD fTPM and Intel PTT

AMD fTPM and Intel PTT are similar technologies, and that's why people often debate which one is better for them by comparing their similarities or differences. Let's briefly compare the two here.

First, the underlying objective of both technologies is the same: to protect microprocessors from unauthorized access, and thus provide an extra layer of security for data.

The second similarity between the AMD and Intel security modules is that they are both embedded in the CPU. This means that they do not require any additional physical hardware to enable their functionality. As such, you won't have to look for any physically connected external modules.

But when it comes to how AMD fTPM and Intel PTT work, that's where the differences lie. To better understand, let's look at these differences. With AMD, everything is handled by the CPU in software, providing full access to hardware security features to the processor.

It uses the PSP (or AMD Platform Security Processor) to enhance security, so it hands over total control of security to a dedicated module on the processor. This means that even if you remove the AMD chip from the motherboard, all your data will remain stored within the AMD chip.

On the other hand, Intel PTT is not restricted and uses the MEI. It offers full control over software, hardware, and external devices for PTT. In short, it will manage everything from the CPU to the BIOS with no software limitations.

This is the main difference between AMD fTPM and Intel PTT. However, both technologies are better and beneficial in their respective domains. Hence, we cannot say that one is better than the other since one has a feature that the other lacks.

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How to enable AMD CPU fTPM?

Usually, the fTPM on AMD CPUs is disabled by default. If you haven't enabled the TPM yet, you can do that.

• Press the "Del" or "F2" key repeatedly during startup.
• Navigate to the "Advanced" option.
• Locate and enter the "CPU Configuration" section.
• Select "AMD fTPM Switch."
• Choose "AMD CPU fTPM" from the list.
• Review the exit screen and save your changes.

This image displays the BIOS settings for the AMD CPU fTPM (firmware Trusted Platform Module).

These are the steps to enable the AMD CPU fTPM on the motherboard. If you want to verify if the fTPM is active, follow these instructions:

• Open the Windows Security Center.
• Navigate to Device Security.
• It displays "Standard hardware security is not supported."

This means that the fTPM is not enabled, and you need to repeat the process above. If you see a page called "Secure Processor Details,"

This message indicates that your CPU has fTPM enabled.

How to fix AMD fTPM stuttering issues?

Recently, AMD discovered issues with some of its processors. One of the main issues is an excessive memory transfer related to fTPM that sends data to SPI flash memory. This can cause the system on the motherboard to hang momentarily.

In recent months, many users have reported this issue, which can cause discomfort due to the system suddenly freezing or responding slowly. AMD has recently addressed this problem and announced an extended BIOS update with an enhanced fTPM module.

This will help your system address such issues and provide a smooth experience. However, it might take some time to become available and applicable to all AMD users. To resolve the problem immediately, you can leverage a trusted platform that utilizes a hardware TPM to overcome the issue and function properly.

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Finally

By now, you should have a good understanding of AMD CPU fTPM and how it differs from Intel PTT. You can easily enable the enhanced security features on your hardware in just a few minutes, following the steps outlined above.