Surface Laptop 3 Faint Buzzing Sound

Anonymous
2019-10-23T21:50:20+00:00

Hello,

I’ve got the i5 8GB Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch), and today, while browsing the internet, I noticed a fairly faint  buzzing sound coming from under the keyboard. It was faint enough you couldn’t hear it from a couple metres away, and sometimes buzzed continuously, other times buzzed in short repetitive bursts.

It didn’t sound like the fan to me, so I opened up the task manager to see if browsing was straining the computer in some way.

I have updated the computer completely, but the buzzing persisted.

Is this a normal electronics problem? Is it actually just the fan? Or is it possibly a defective unit?

Edit/Update:

I took the device into the MS Store today to see if there was something wrong. The staff took it into the back and tested it. They found increasing the computer's workload caused the sound to increase and described it as a popping static-y sound. They replaced the device and I have a new one now. Unfortunately, I've found through usage that this one is also making the sound. I am waiting to see if a firmware update reduces the noise since it seems pervasive across the devices.

Surface | Surface Laptop | Install and update

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-04-17T22:25:04+00:00

    It was suggested on this thread to download RingCentral.  It's some kind of messaging program.

    I installed it, opened the program and the buzzing sound went completely silent. You can click on X and program minimizes to system tray, so you don't have to worry about keeping it open.

    Without the program on, the sound comes back on.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-04-15T14:32:22+00:00

    Hi gailpetr,

    The Windows registry setting workaround was officially posted by Microsoft for another similar issue.

    This workaround that disables the ACPI C2-state and C3-state by setting a registry key also fixes the buzzing noise generated by the CPU Idle state on SL3.

    The link to that post is:

    Stop error message on a Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer that has the Hyper-V role installed and that uses one or more Intel CPUs that are code-named Nehalem: "0x00000101 - CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT" (microsoft.com)

    I quote the workaround posted by Microsoft below:

    Workaround You can disable the Advance Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) C-states by using a BIOS firmware option on the computer. If the firmware does not include this option, a software workaround is available. You can disable the ACPI C2-state and C3-state by setting a registry key. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. At a command prompt, run the following command: reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Processor /v Capabilities /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0007e066
    2. Restart the computer.

    Note The computer idle power consumption will increase significantly if the deeper ACPI C-states (processor idle sleep states) are disabled. Windows Server 2008 R2 uses these deeper C-states on the Xeon 5500 series as a key energy-saving feature.

    To continue to benefit from these energy-saving states, remove the registry key that you set in step 1 after you install the hotfix that this article describes. To do remove the registry key, follow these steps:

    1. At a command prompt, run the following command: reg delete HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Processor /v Capabilities /f
    2. Restart the computer.

    I've just tried that workaround and I get no buzzing noise after running that registry add command.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-04-15T10:56:34+00:00

    Hi Billy_S,

    Thank you for your reply. So I've decided to not use Throttle Stop.

    Is this registry setting the fix that you did on your laptop?

    reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Processor /v Capabilities /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0007e066

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-04-14T15:11:28+00:00

    I just want to know what I can do.  What happens if I change the registry?

    Mine is very loud, with the noise continuous.  No one can hear me when I try to use the mike.  It is very loud and continues nonstop.

    Does changing the registry shut down the fan? Is there any risk?  I cannot use it because it is so loud it interferes with my other computer on Zoom and creates an unbearable drone in the background while I am using another computer next to it.

    I am so surprised that Microsoft has not responded to any of our complaints with any solution.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-04-13T14:39:02+00:00

    Now that Surface 4 is out they should replace our defective Surface 3 with brand new one Surface 4 at no extra costs.

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