this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2023
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Are there any negative impacts from enabling TPM 2.0? (self.techsupport)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by StringPotatoTheory to c/techsupport
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I'm on windows 10.

I occasionally like to play valorant with friends and starting in the middle of this month it's going to require TPM 2.0 to be enabled. I currently can't easily enable it because I'm on legacy BIOS for a reason I can't remember (and when I switch to UEFI, it can't see my windows installation). I have a new SSD that I can format in hopefully the right way to enable UEFI in the BIOS, but before I dive into fixing this mess I have some questions about TPM 2.0.

  1. If I enable TPM 2.0, can windows decide to update to windows 11 without my input?

Edit, I looked into this a bit and windows makes it very very easy to click to install windows 11. It's kind of disguised as a regular windows update notification :/

  1. Are there any downsides to enabling TPM 2.0? Are there any exploits I should be worried about? Will some legally acquired software not run anymore?
  2. Bonus question - why would Riot Vanguard (valorant's anti-cheat software) need TPM 2.0 to be enabled? Would it be a way for them to stop players from playing on a virtual machine? Or is it more so they can stop cheaters?
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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I currently can't easily enable it because I'm on legacy BIOS for a reason I can't remember (and when I switch to UEFI, it can't see my windows installation).

Yeah that's because UEFI requries GPT partitioning, you can convert it by following this guide: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-move-bios-uefi-windows-10

Or like you said, a fresh install on a new SSD will work too (just enable UEFI beforehand).

[–] StringPotatoTheory 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

oh my god I didn't know this was possible! I might try this then do a clone to my new SSD. I would have so many files to copy over and programs to reinstall, I'd like to avoid a clean installation if I can

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'd recommend cloning it and then following the guide on the new SSD, just in case something goes wrong then you still have a complete backup.

[–] StringPotatoTheory 2 points 2 years ago

I didn't even think of that! I'll do that, thank you so much

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Answering your 2nd and 3rd question:

  • No, there aren't really any downsides from enabling TPM (aside from maybe losing >1% of your performance/battery life) And no, it should not intefere with any legally adquired software. That being said, ANY piece of hardware is exploitable if you learn the insides of it, but kind the point of TPM is that every OEM can implement it a slightly different manner, thus making it harder to make an all-in-one exploit tool (and that's not even taking BIOS updates into account).

  • Pretty much yeah, TPM makes it easier for companies to validate the machine that is running their software is legit as well as making it harder for hackers to run exploits.

[–] neal 2 points 2 years ago
  1. It shouldn't but I wouldn't put it past Microsoft. That said, all it does is notify me that Windows 11 is available and ready to download/install. It is a button above the check for updates option.
  2. AMD previously had some issues with TPM installed that caused stuttering on games. That was on the AM4 platform and has since been resolved. Not aware of any other issues.
  3. No idea, try asking in a community specific for that game. Might get better answers for that.
[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 years ago

TPM 2.0 is malware