Can I remove the Intel Management Engine driver and software?

Intel Management Engine

I have never fully understood the purpose of this driver and software.
My research just hasn't answered my questions.
I installed it because it came with the ASRock motherboard CD and looked like it might be necessary.
Software Updates Monitor (SUMo) is showing that it needs to be updated.
There is a later version of the driver on the ASRock download page, but not the latest version shown by SUMo.

If this is not needed, I would like to remove it.

Windows 7 Uninstaller shows it as Intel Management Engine Components.
SUMo shows it as Intel Management and Security Status.
Both of the above do show the same version number.

The motherboard is an ASRock with Intel H87 chipset.

Can I remove this driver and any associated software??

 

This article will give you more info. on the Intel Management Engine and what it does:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vpro-amt-management-kvm,3003-6.html

Since it appears to have an error reporting function built in (and is not a security risk so far as I'm aware of), my thought is to leave it in place. Performance wise, it should have very little (if any) impact on the speed of your PC.