Friday, June 25th 2021
Thanks to Windows 11, Scalpers Buy Out Add-on TPM 2.0 Modules
Most modern PC platforms include an fTPM (firmware trusted platform module) of some form. Those that don't, have a TPM 2.0 compatible header on the motherboards. Microsoft's requirement of a hardware TPM for Windows 11 has scalpers go after add-on TPMs, which are typically priced around $20, but now marked up to $100, according to price-tracking by Shen Ye, a senior HTC VIVE exec, who has been tracking prices of add-on TPMs on Twitter.
Scalpers possibly anticipate a rush of ill-informed buyers out for add-on TPMs, who haven't spent 5 minutes digging through their UEFI setup programs for the fTPM toggle. Below is a screenshot of a Ryzen 7 2700X-based machine, paired with an AMD B450 chipset motherboard (a platform from 2018), with its fTPM toggle turned on. The PC now meets Windows 11 system requirements. Windows 11 uses hardware TPMs for secure storage of credentials. "Microsoft, can you not impose a TPM requirement during a silicon shortage? Especially considering most desktop motherboards support TPM only as a purchasable accessory," Shen Ye tweeted.
Source:
Shen Ye (Twitter)
Scalpers possibly anticipate a rush of ill-informed buyers out for add-on TPMs, who haven't spent 5 minutes digging through their UEFI setup programs for the fTPM toggle. Below is a screenshot of a Ryzen 7 2700X-based machine, paired with an AMD B450 chipset motherboard (a platform from 2018), with its fTPM toggle turned on. The PC now meets Windows 11 system requirements. Windows 11 uses hardware TPMs for secure storage of credentials. "Microsoft, can you not impose a TPM requirement during a silicon shortage? Especially considering most desktop motherboards support TPM only as a purchasable accessory," Shen Ye tweeted.
263 Comments on Thanks to Windows 11, Scalpers Buy Out Add-on TPM 2.0 Modules
- If W11 doesn't need TPM, then scalpers have just wasted their money.
^ Either way sounds like a win to me.
I guess we must give Microsoft some slack as an indie studio instead of a multi-billion dollar company. /s :roll:
Company ignoring the consumer input and delivering exactly what they didn't ask for is pure evil
Company listening to the consumer and trying to compromise is an embarrassment
ATM it seems TPM 1.2 itself isn't good enough.
Microsoft does away with 'soft floor', updates minimum Windows 11 specs with TPM 2.0 requirement - MSPoweruser
Of course this may not be the case now since things can change on a dime and MS right now is dancing to try and make the new OS more appealing with all the controversy over it.
However with the latest requirements we've seen published there is no longer any mention of TPM 1.2, only TPM 2.0 so for now, just take it with a grain of salt.
Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity.
For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features."
Enterprise likely wont, but if its on home...pro will likely require it.
I just bought a pro 10 workstation license from the MS store. It didnt have a product key in the download section normally where download software is.
I contracted MS and they said they no longer offer product keys with the digital downloads. They forced me to activate it against the MS account I purchased the license from. Im in the process of getting it refunded as im upgrading a computer that isnt mine, but the Microsoft rep was totally unprofessional and said that isnt how windows works and that anyone who knows how to use a computer knows you need an MS account.
While my MCSE, Azure Certs, Action Pack, SPLA and decades as a professional tech since NT3.5/3.11 would say otherwise.
I escalated to internal team. I was trying to buy a retail version as this was a friends not buisness computer...no good deed goes unpunished i guess.
Yeah the thing most companies love is stuff going viral is the term still allowed after covid lol
The current thing with scalpers ATM is just a nusicance to MS and us, that's why in time, everything will have it built-in to ensure you've got it whether you want it or not and this is what I'm thinking here.
TPM modules are used in a business, for a home application it doesn't make alot of sense.....
Unless you intend to transform these machines INTO home versions (Workstations) of these business type machines with no local storage of data.
To even access your machine or data you'd need an account to log in just as it is at your workplace.....
And guess what MS has waiting for you for that purpose once you create it?
The machine is forced to go out, ping the master server and retrieve what it needs to operate as it is in a business that has a network with workstations using a login account. MS has always been big about networking ever since it was started, the cloud itself being a step in that direction to slowly but surely move things in that direction.
Since it now seems they are setting up the basic structure of this for ALL users of Winblows, the thing about TPM itself and TPM modules makes perfect sense.
No more local storage of anything - If you name it, won't be local to your machine anymore once all this is in place nor will your control be local either.
That may take another Win version or two to get going for real but I do see it coming.
Also, what you are describing wouldn't be a wholly bad idea. Have a low power AIO on a desk and just rent power and space as needed. I'd be fine with having that option, but that being the only way to have PC's is a long way off. So it's literally decades away then. A lot of stuff can happen before then. And again, I'd be fine with having the option described above, but it being the only way to have computers is a really long way away.
Right now trying to get folks to move on won't be easy.
The scalpers will be slowing things down hogging all the TPM modules for unreal profits.
Of course MS didn't think of or even care about this with the modules, they do know in time all hardware dies or just becomes ususeable and the need to replace will occur and since they ain't having to pay for it.....
All these "Moves" have been done with a goal in mind, developement of new tech just doesn't happen with no objective in mind - You have to know WHAT the tech is supposed to do and it's purpose for being made when you go to create it.
The cloud has been around for a few years now, AI learning stuff going on, self-driving cars now starting to appear for real....
The kinds of advances all this needs are right around the corner, much closer than many realize and what we're seeing with the TPM modules and their purpose is just one small facet of it, all of which adds up to a singular purpose and I can promise you, MS is one that does KNOW what the end-game/purpose is all about.
You have a cellphone, internet. Maybe cable TV, spotify or pandora...how many services do you pay for monthly that you didnt pay for 20 years ago? There was a lot of mneybin creating code and then selljng milkions of copies...but then the overhead of constantly updating, pstchjng and improving became cumbersome and new users figured out how to keep their existing systems functional on old versions. This will force people into a required update situstion...ever notice very few ohon3 have enough onboard memepry to last more than 3 or so years worth if OS updates.
Its not decadss away...we are alrwady here. Bte, i charge $0.50/gb of enterprise cloud storage...and people dont delete anythjbg so every month the bill gets higher...and for me addjng a few disks to the san is relatively cheap.
www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11
Also, this is an interesting read. Pay attention to section 3.6.1.
download.microsoft.com/download/7/8/8/788bf5ab-0751-4928-a22c-dffdc23c27f2/Minimum%20Hardware%20Requirements%20for%20Windows%2011.pdf