Certainly not both. Since Intel's list of compatible boards for v8 includes a slew of 6 Series (and maybe older) boards, it must be backwardly compatible. Intel should have made the title clearer by saying something like "now with support for 7 Series" rather than making it sound like it was only for 7 Series.
That's interesting!
I hadn't noticed that. I downloaded and installed the latest Version for my DZ68DB which is ME Driver 7.1.40.1161. I visited the Z77 Boards Drivers Page too and saw the ME Driver 8.0.4.1441. It is compatible with the Z68 Intel Motherboards according to the list of supported Boards. Since the ME Driver 8.0.4.1441 is the newer one, it shouldn't harm to upgrade to it, just like when upgrading any other Driver to a newer version. Shouldn't this be OK?
With the introduction of Ivy bridge processors, motherboards will receive new bioses with Me 8 firmware along with existing Me 7 both included. Until now there was only Me 7. Me 8 is clearly meant for Ivy. Probably Sandy doesn't use Me 8 at all or doesn't know how. From software side of things probably Me 8 could be compatible with version 7. And what is this engine meant for anyway. I remember some sensor monitoring software used it, but there is plenty of other 3rd party that doesn't need it.
Such a BIOS is already available for Intel Z68 Boards, the 0040 version. It installs in the latest Revisions of DZ68DB ( AA# ending 105 or above) the ME Firmware version 8. The Z77 ME driver should be similar. So for DZ68DB Boards with older Revision Number, like mine, (AA# ending 101 or less) which didn't get the NEW ME Update via the BIOS update it should be OK, since the compatiblity to chipset 6 boards is clearly stated. Shouldn't it be like that? Otherwise the option is to wait for a newer BIOS Version.
@aris1978 That makes sense to me and if you look in the "System Identification Information" of the BIOS it reports (on rel 0040 for the DZ68DB with "version" < 105) IME firmware version 7.1.30.1142.
I think the safer option is probably to stick with the IME that has a version more closely matching the firmware. In this case the version number on the 6 series driver release is 7.1.40.1161.
If you do try version 8 on a <105 board let us know how it goes!
So, a small update. I downloaded the version 8 of the ME Driver. It is also listed in the DZ68DB Drivers list for download. Installed, rebooted, and recognised normally from the System. In the Device Manager under "Intel Management Engine" under "Properties" and "Driver" I can see that an upgrade to Version 8 has been made. Seems to be OK. BIOS still shows 7.1.30 ME firmware and not 8.0.0.xxx, but it will be changend with a later BIOS update, when the 22nm CPUs will be launched I guess. As I stated above It could have already be done with the current 0040 BIOS update, but that's not the case with all z68 Intel Boards since the Revision #AA number is of importance. I also kept in my HDD the 7.1.40 ME Driver just in case that things wouldn't go as expected in order to downgrade if needed, but I think everything is fine.
I just noticed that IDU actually doesn't seem to function under the version 7 release of IME... installing version 8 brings it back to life.
This release approach that brings AA# boards up to speed by section (>=105, <105) is not working at all. Look at all the code drift and confusion it's creating.
Well it seems then that installing the Driver version 8 is the right direction I guess? 10c is your mobo's #AA number ending also <105?
OK!I have exactly the same.So to sum up i did the following during the last days.1)Installed 0040 BIOS update, 2)installed the 8.0 ME driver update.Now all we need is a BIOS update for 8.0.xx ME firmware upgrade for full 22nm CPU support.
