[Solved] Will Win11 work with a GA-Z170 MB + mod CoffeeLake CPU?

Operating Systems Windows 11/Server 2025
1

Hi,

I am not an advanced user, still a noob.

Can someone tell me whether Windows 11 supports the following hardware, natively,
without using the bypass method:

  1. 10TH COMET LAKE QTJ1 0000 2.1G 8C16T MODIFIED LAPTOP CPU TO LGA 1151
  2. Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 socket 1151 motherboard.

I have ordered the above hardware, it should arrive soon.

My CPU seller from Aliexpress has confirmed that Windows 11 does not natively support
the above hardware.

The motherboard has got Intel Platform Trusted Technology feature to enable TPM 2.0 firmware. And Secure Boot feature can be turned on in the UEFI BIOS.

I cannot see the reason why the CPU + mobo does not support Windows 11.
After all, if it is the real Laptop NON-ES CPU, using the same Comet Lake chip, it does support Windows 11 installation on the laptop.

Did overlook something important that I cannot join the dots?

Since this is a mutant PC, is the main reason it is not supported?

Can someone confirm?

Thank you.


Edit by Fernando: Thread title shortened

2

As far as I know, using Coffee Lake processors on 100/200-Series motherboards requires disabling Intel ME. This will prevent the PTT from working, so you will need either an external (discrete) TPM module or a bypass.

1 Like
3

Thanks for your comment.
Q1) Personally have you done this before?
Q2) How to disable Intel ME?

4

Yes, I disabled ME using MECleaner

CoffeeTime does everything necessary, including replacing and then turning off the ME

5

I am not an expert of running CoffeeTime.
I just asked the AliEx seller to mod the mobo firmware for me, sent over to my email, I downloaded it. Next, I flashed my mobo with modded firmware.
So I don’t about disabling ME.

6

CoffeTime will automatically turn off ME because it is mandatory. After flashing the modified BIOS, Intel ME will be disabled and Platform Trusted Technology will not work.

7

Ok noted. Thanks,

Q1) Just want to be clear here. When you said PTT will not work, you mean firmware TPM will not work? But the Hardware TPM still works if I plug in a TPM module into my mobo?

Q2) I am looking at buying TPM 2.0 modules.
It seems like there are some fakes in the market.
Where do you buy the real ones? eBay?

8

Yep. Only software emulating (PTT) will be disabled

eBay?

Pay attention to the number of contacts in the connector

9

Sorry, 1 last question…I need to ask is…even though PTT is by right disabled (after running CoffeeTime which it disabled Intel ME and hence PTT is not functional),
Then why I can go into the UEFI BIOS, I can still enable / disable PTT, shouldn’t this feature be removed when I flashed the mobo using the modified UEFI BIOS?

10

Yep, there are many pin configurations for different brand of mobo.
My Gigabyte mobo using is 20 pins.
Just want to ask where you can buy a reliable TPM module from a seller.
I worry that if I buy a cheap TPM module and if it die later, I cannot access my Win 11.

11

Mobo vendor does not implement hiding this feature depending on the ME state.
Obviously because disabling ME is an undocumented feature from Intel, implemented exclusively for the USA government.

Windows uses TPM only for BitLocker.
If you don’t use BitLocker, then TPM won’t be used by the system at all
If you use Bitlocker and the TPM is dead, you can access the data by entering the recovery password that BitLocker creates when you enable encryption.

1 Like
12

Ok thanks for your links.

I cannot ever understand fully the hacking
work by the smart Russian people to kill off Intel ME.
:slightly_smiling_face: