AMD has removed the Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) feature from its consumer CPUs, a change that has surprised and frustrated users. Initially introduced to protect against physical data threats, TSME was available on lower-end Ryzen chips, leading users to expect its continued availability. However, AMD has officially confirmed that TSME is now exclusive to PRO CPUs, without clear communication on why this change occurred.
Users like Ben Kilpatrick have conducted investigations and found that older firmware versions allowed TSME on consumer CPUs, but newer versions disable it. Concerns revolve around whether this change was intentional or a firmware bug, with AMD declining to provide further clarification on the matter. The removal has been perceived as a betrayal by users who relied on this security feature.