It is not only about OS. Also the firmware(the motherboard ROM). the t480 is spooky. use t400/x200
https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner
Before Nehalem (ME version 6, 2008/2009) the ME firmware could be removed completely from the flash chip by setting a couple of bits inside the flash descriptor, effectively disabling it.
Starting from Nehalem the Intel ME firmware can't be removed anymore: without a valid firmware the PC shuts off forcefully after 30 minutes, probably as an attempt to enforce the Intel Anti-Theft policies.