What is a TPM and is it needed?

[Compman55]

Some new systems I have worked on (Windows 8+) have a little card on the mainboard and it is a TPM. What is this for? Can it be removed?

 

[Gunbuster]

TPM, Trusted Platform Module: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TPM

Can it be removed? Sure

Can that break things? Yes

 

[BW86]

Pretty sure the TPM chip stores encryption keys

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah. I think it's required for certain types of drive encryption (Bitlocker.)

Most useful in corporate environments.