Linux: Enabling SMEE in BIOS leads to boot loop

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   Hi!

My system essentially is:
- ASROCK 650M PG Riptide mainboard with the latest BIOS updates 1.11.AS03 [Beta] flashed
- Ryzen 9 7950X cpu
- 64GB G.Skill Flare X5 DDR5-5600 DIMM CL36 Dual Kit RAM

In the BIOS I enabled the SMEE (memory encryption), but when doing so  I'm stuck in a boot loop. I see the GRUB2 boot screen, start booting, black screen, again the GRUB2 boot screen.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

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kernie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Jan 2023 Status: Offline Points: 115	Post Options Post Reply Quote kernie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Linux: Enabling SMEE in BIOS leads to boot loop Posted: 11 Jan 2023 at 2:17am
	Hi! My system essentially is: - ASROCK 650M PG Riptide mainboard with the latest BIOS updates 1.11.AS03 [Beta] flashed - Ryzen 9 7950X cpu - 64GB G.Skill Flare X5 DDR5-5600 DIMM CL36 Dual Kit RAM In the BIOS I enabled the SMEE (memory encryption), but when doing so I'm stuck in a boot loop. I see the GRUB2 boot screen, start booting, black screen, again the GRUB2 boot screen. Any ideas? Thanks!

eccential Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Oct 2022 Location: Nevada Status: Offline Points: 6635	Post Options Post Reply Quote eccential Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 2023 at 3:21am
	According to AMD's own site explaining the "extras" of their PRO line of processors, I see this: "AMD Memory Guard provides real time encryption of system memory to help protect against physical attacks..." So I wonder if SMEE is only supported with "PRO" CPUs and APUs, disregarding they're all the same silicon dies, but with some features fused off, I guess. And if so, I wonder if BIOS even allowing you to flip that option on non-PRO CPU is a bug. But I don't know for sure.

ECC_4_Ryzen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Sep 2020 Status: Offline Points: 72	Post Options Post Reply Quote ECC_4_Ryzen Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 2025 at 11:21pm
	Same here... Motherboard manufacturers don't seem to care. AMD doesn't seem to care about their own advertising. No, eccential, SME is supported on non-pro AMD CPUs. This is well documented, but it is just marketing; it is a lie in reality.