AMD yanks memory encryption from Ryzen CPUs via stealth firmware update
Security feature vanishes through BIOS updates, AMD won't say why
AMD stripped memory encryption (TSME) from consumer Ryzen CPUs through silent AGESA firmware updates, according to Tom's Hardware. Users who updated their motherboard BIOS lost the feature without warning. AMD engineers have refused to explain the change when pressed by outlets and security researchers.
TSME encrypts data in system RAM to protect against physical attacks. It's been available on Ryzen since first-gen chips. The feature vanished after recent AGESA 1.2.0.C and newer releases — no changelog entry, no security advisory. Affected chips span Zen 2 through Zen 5, including 7000 and 9000-series desktop parts.
For gamers, the direct impact is near zero. TSME adds negligible overhead in gaming workloads. The bigger worry: if AMD can silently remove a documented security feature with no explanation, what else gets pulled in future updates? This matters more for workstation users handling sensitive data, but the radio silence is bad optics across the board.
If you run a Ryzen system and care about this, check your BIOS version. Older AGESA builds still have TSME enabled. Rolling back is possible on most boards, but you'll miss newer performance and stability fixes. See our Ryzen optimization guide for other settings that actually affect framerates.