6 ms·

> The fTPM clearly affects the system stability, even under an OS where it’s not in use. This is probably a code that works in SMM mode, and it has a priority

> The fTPM clearly affects the system stability, even under an OS where it’s not in use. This is probably a code that works in SMM mode, and it has a priority even over ring 0 code. SMM is one of the worst CPU features, it is basically a backdoor in your system that can do anything and you cannot even see it. Even if you run Linux you have no control over SMM code, it can hang your system and you cannot even debug it. Also this shows a weakness of an "open" PC model where poorly tested hardware and low quality firmware from different vendors are assembled together. I cannot imagine this happening on an iPhone for example.

raverbashing 4y ago
And it's frankly absurd that ASUS/AMD etc won't run a test to see if the board runs under Windows/Linux without stuttering ATI drivers back then were already in a different league of quality than nVidia ones, looking like amateur hour sometimes SMM code writers seem to not give a F about any OS except Windows (current version) and even then. If AMD wants to win the datacenter they need to be extra attentive to this
mkopec 4y ago
> This is probably a code that works in SMM mode AMD fTPM runs on the PSP coprocessor, not on the x86 cores.