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
    2021-03-27T12:52:57+00:00

    So is this Throttle Stop app another scam? Hard to see how installing an app magically fixes this problem

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-27T11:10:38+00:00

    I have set up a Throttle Stop profile (status C6) and it works fine. I have about 2% more battery consumption per

    hour than without.

    What I just noticed and don't understand is that the coil whining is even gone when I just start Throttle Stop and

    don't start any of the profiles, so turn on is displayed in the main menu of Throttle Stop. Thats exciting.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-26T21:27:05+00:00

    Just following up on my previous response. I've noticed the high-pitched frequency sound seems to happen more when I have something plugged into the USB port. Anyone else notice that as well?

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-03-25T13:54:06+00:00

    I did some further reading on the Internet and found the technical data sheet for the i5 1035G7 on the Intel Page.

    https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/634963

    On page 47 you can find a table with the Package C-States and some explanation.

    Image

    The only real difference in Package C- States between C6 and C7/8 is the flushed and powered down L3 Cache (LLC).

    So it looks to me that powering down and powering up of the L3 Cache causes the buzzing noise. I guess there are some Voltage spikes when voltage is removed or reapplied from or to the L3 Cache which cause some coils or other elements to vibrate due to heat or magnetic forces.

    But that is just my guess based on the informations I have, it could also be something else causig the buzzing noise.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-03-24T22:46:31+00:00

    Super! Thanks for your advice with C6. I have also tested with ThrottleStop, but not with your settings.

    Currently looks very good, CPU does not get hot and the fans stay silent. I will test this the next few days.

    Its a pleasure to use a silent Surface Laptop 3.

    I am very curious if someone from Microsoft will comment this thread.

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