AMD will reinstate the BIOS option to enable Memory Guard in non-PRO Ryzen 9000-series desktop processors in an upcoming BIOS release in July. The company had removed the option in a recent update.

Memory Guard is AMD's term for Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME), a feature that encrypts the entire contents stored in memory. TSME protects against cold boot attacks and similar intrusions requiring physical access by relying on an ephemeral encryption key generated during each system start that is not accessible by software. When enabled, memory pages are automatically encrypted and decrypted on each write or read operation, functioning independently of the operating system.

Addressing the change, AMD stated, "Regarding certain non-PRO Ryzen 9000-series desktop processors, a BIOS option to enable Memory Guard was previously available but was removed in a recent update." The company added, "Based on valuable community feedback, we will reinstate this option in an upcoming BIOS release in July."

AMD initially added TSME to its high-end CPUs approximately ten years ago before expanding availability to lower-end processors, including the consumer version of its Ryzen chips. Recent firmware changes were responsible for the removal of TSME from these consumer chips.

Why It Matters

The reinstatement of the Memory Guard BIOS option follows user feedback regarding its removal from non-PRO Ryzen 9000-series desktop processors. The feature provides a security layer by encrypting system memory contents to defend against specific physical attack vectors, and its return allows users of these processors to re-enable the data protection function.