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
    2020-09-19T03:30:18+00:00

    First SL3 I bought had a bad battery and had to replace it within a week of buying it. Had to wait over a week to receive a refund. Bought a new one and now I have this problem. Also, I can't return it because I'm a student and can't go without a laptop. Lovely Microsoft.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-08-26T10:31:18+00:00

    I had the same problem like you.

    I tried everything (including a restart and a reset to default). Nothing helped...

    But when i installed the new Softwareupdate the problem was for about two months gone.

    Unfortunately the problem came this week back...

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-08-19T02:43:06+00:00

    I spoke too soon. I literally just did the firmware update today and I don't hear the noise anymore....who knows???

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-08-19T01:36:30+00:00

    15" i7 16GB 256GB and I too have the same problem. It's extremely subtle under normal load, you'd have to literally have your ear right next to the fan on the charger side of the laptop to hear it. However, under load, you'd hear it. Is this just the design of the laptop? Or is this truly a defect? Would anyone happen to know?

    Thanks!

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-08-17T08:39:03+00:00

    15" i7 16GB 256GB and have the same problem.

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