>>834537 (OP)
ME CANNOT BE DISABLED ON NEW GEN HARDWARE
https://mail.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2017-December/085669.html
*"The disappointing fact is that on modern computers, it is impossible to
completely disable ME. This is primarily due*
*to the fact that this technology is responsible for initialization, power
management, and launch of the main processor."*
I will repeat again (in RED). Long before BIOS starts, there are (at least
>5) very complex phases how the whole platform, by HW
and FW is initialized. There are several components which are interacting
with PCH, thus/read ME, BEFORE BIOS starts, These
components are the following:
PMIC (Power Management IC, integrated or discrete)
EC (Embedded Controller)
Some of IO init (HW wise default straps, then ME applied FW straps)
ICC (Integrated Clock Controller)
All of which need to be set correctly BEFORE MEI allows BIOS to start. And
there are some relationships among these entities
in the process of ME driving init of these components.