Does this laptop have Intel Managment Engine?

10 respostas [Última entrada]
vander
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Joined: 12/18/2023

I was looking into a thinkpad to replace my current Dell laptop. Before I buy this I was wondering if it's CPU has Intel Management Engine on it. Side question, is the network card supported on trisquel gnu/linux? All replies are greatly appreciated

vander
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Joined: 12/18/2023
andyprough
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Joined: 02/12/2015

That laptop has an Intel Kaby Lake generation CPU, which does have the Intel Management Engine.

Lenovo was apparently using the Intel 9260 802.11AC wifi card for those laptops. That network card is not supported with Trisquel. You would need to see if you could replace it with an Atheros card, or you would need to use an Atheros wifi USB dongle instead.

vander
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Joined: 12/18/2023

Thank you so much, I will not be purchasing that laptop. I think I will buy this one instead https://www.ebay.com/itm/285592307252?hash=item427ea0c634:g:Af8AAOSwWfplbqEA&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwHlxD8zhEu16%2BFPqdTP%2BzCsn4S4Fv46uqvQMcJDfRri3uFfQThwiYfkB%2B8g1EZYZfk4i... it seems to have everything I want in a laptop. I will be saving for a while though haha. Thanks!

vander
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Joined: 12/18/2023

Do you know how easy it is to replace a cpu and a network card on a thinkpad, I have only worked on desktops before. I was thinking about buying the following cpu https://www.ebay.com/itm/134849139832?epid=2280545932&hash=item1f65a29478:g:boEAAOSw-vFld9pn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwMGXUbO%2FtIrMp%2Fcl1ZgYAbXSXOqq49PdMt4h4PRysa8%2FTu7EW6L1... and replacing it with that one. Then buying this network card : https://www.ebay.com/itm/272833752696?epid=10004169799&hash=item3f8628ae78:g:1UQAAOSw5cNYLTtT&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4F9fLqJLF0mVjMljviurpZ51ZWI6ihzNgx5VjmoiiKBxjTHocjnDop3ZH... and replacing it with that. I know this is no easy task for most laptops. Do you think this would work out?

Sunny Day
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Joined: 01/05/2023

I hope these videos can help you as much as they have helped me. From there, if needed, you could search for more videos on disassembling other ThinkPad models.

X200:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7CS2HDUAIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVG7SW0ouL8&list=PLbMBru829z4sz-MKz8m8E45NJwsL2Bf9C&index=65

X220 and X230:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJs01Q8EuDw

X230 (part 1 of 3):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGKsgw0gq_4

X230T:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn-ensT5G9A&list=PLbMBru829z4sz-MKz8m8E45NJwsL2Bf9C&index=84

Urbancowboy
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Joined: 10/14/2022

You can run ME Cleaner as well. I did this on a Thinkcentre for Jellyfin and works.

https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner

Psion
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Joined: 12/29/2023

If it can be me cleaned, that is wise. Although pity coreboot can't also be added, I think?

Urbancowboy
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Joined: 10/14/2022

Yes, up to I think up to Gen 8 or 9 Intel you can clean ME. After that you can only disable the HAP. I'm not 100% versed on this subject. I heard they have been able to Coreboot boards up to gen 12.

Psion
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Joined: 12/29/2023

Unless boot guard is a blocker. Lenovo computers are mostly blocked by boot guard from being corebooted from gen 4+ if I recall.

However, there is a boot guard vulnerability that could be exploited potentially maybe to put coreboot on. I am not sure how likely it is, but I recall reading about it here:

https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ps500187-bios-modules-unprotected-by-intel-boot-guard-vulnerable-to-physical-attack

Its beyond me whether this is possible or not to coreboot the ones vulnerable.

But it could be hope for the future. :)

andyprough
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Joined: 02/12/2015

NovaCustom is selling laptops right now with Intel 12th generation chips with Dasharo coreboot and with the HAP bit set to disable IME. They said they should be selling laptops by this summer 2024 with 14th generation Intel chips with Dasharo coreboot.

System76 is currently selling laptops with 13th generation Intel chips with coreboot with the HECI method of "soft" disabling IME. They don't appear to use Dasharo coreboot, but a coreboot of their own configuration, based on what information I've been able to gather without actually using one of their laptops.

Both NovaCustom and System76 are adapting laptops made by the Clevo manufacturer from Taiwan. NovaCustom appears to be an officially supported hardware vendor of the Dasharo coreboot project. Possibly the Dasharo coreboot project focuses on those Clevo laptops, and maybe they are easier to support with coreboot for some reason.