Re: Putting together a computer from old components

On Mon, 29 Nov 2021 15:34:58 +0000
SH <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 29/11/2021 11:26, Spiros Bousbouras wrote:
> > The Intel management engine and the analogous from AMD creep me out so I
> > want to put a computer together using old processors from before these
> > facilities came into the picture. Operating system will be Linux. I
> > already have AMD Sempron and Athlon processors and now I need the rest.
> > www.pcupgrade.co.uk  sells old motherboards. I have a few questions
> > related to my endeavour :
> > 
> > Is there any notion of compatibility between computer cases and
> > motherboards ? If yes , how do I ensure that I get a case such that an old
> > motherboard (one with an AM2 socket) fits ?
> > 
> > Are there any issues related to my efforts I should be aware of ? I mean
> > issues specific to putting a computer together from old parts.
> > 
> > The only experience I have in putting a computer together is adding
> > components to a barebones computer but I've never done it from scratch.
> > 
> what is it about the intel management engine that creeps you out?

That there is a part of the processor running secret code which has access to
everything on the computer (memory , storage media , internet communications)
and nothing in the software that you choose to run on your computer can
affect this. There is no documented way to disable it either. For Intel
management engine in particular , a huge number of vulnerabilities have been
found. That's the part with 0 speculation. The speculation that it may be an
intended backdoor , is plausible. This is the summary. For full details see
(a lot worse for Intel than for AMD)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Management_Engine
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Secure_Technology

Note also that these management engines are an additional large and
complicated attack surface which doesn't buy *me* anything. I'm not even sure
why they're there , I mean what is the official justification ? Why should I
undertake the additional risk , if I don't get anything in return ? The
better performance is of almost no consequence to me and the management
engines are unrelated to the better performance anyway. So , even if I wanted
the better performance , it seems like a dubious deal that I should accept a
greater risk as a price.

> P.S. I have a number of spare PCs in loft up for sale if you are 
> interested...

> Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe board with an AMD Athlon with 4GB RAM
> 
> Asus P5LD2-Deluxe with Intel processor and 4GB ram

I'd rather avoid Intel since their processors have had too many
vulnerabilities over the years even unrelated to the management engine.
Assuming the AMD processor is old enough not to have the "secure technology"
(how can one know this ?) and the computer is working , I'm interested. Email
me (see header) and we'll talk privately.

> I think I have a 3rd machine knocking about thats more recent I will 
> have to have a dig.

-- 
FFT is well established but will there be one day a fast and furious Fourier
transform ?