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
    2020-11-14T20:13:47+00:00

    Hey! Thanks for your post! I was concerned this buzzing sound was a defect and would cause the machine to slow down or something will break down - I bought this device 1 month ago and have just noticed the buzzing. I immediately noticed the charging block on the AC chord buzzes when plugged in but the laptop itself only recently started buzzing. 

    It's concerning that MS isn't providing any support on the matter. I absolutely love this device (i7 Sandstone) and I would like to have it last longer than just a year! It was between this and a Mac and if MS isn't up to snuff in supporting their customers then maybe Macs are the better bet... *cue world crashing down on me as a devoted Windows user* haha

    Is your SL3 still working well? Have you noticed any significant drops in speed?

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-11-11T10:24:17+00:00

    You need to activate the low power mode on the battery icon all the time if you are just browsing or writing. Otherwise the fan will come on when its charging or when the performance goes up a bit. I have it in low power mode whenever it´s not docked.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-11-11T10:16:29+00:00

    Ok guys hear me out: I bought an SL3 in November 2019, excactly one year ago. It buzzed then, it buzzes now and it will be buzzing tomorrow. I have been getting the responses from this thread for the same time.

    I think it becomes clear now that the buzzing is an intrinsic problem on the SL3 hardware and MS will not, I repeat WILL NOT, acknowledge the problem because that would mean substantial financial losses for their SL3 branch. They would have to grant the right for repair or swap to every SL3 owner and obviously they are not willing to do this. 

    I don´t see any hope for us consumers in this, because MS just has the higher ground. Sorry guys, let´s enjoy the buzz!

    All the best

    lionlund

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-11-10T22:25:45+00:00

    I am also having the same issue and it is driving me insane, I already have tinnitus to deal with!

    I did notice that for a brief second the buzzing goes as you remove the power cable, then returns. That surely means it is power related, either battery or PSU?

    Either way, this needs to be fixed.

    This is a Microsoft forum, right? So why isn't anyone from Microsoft addressing this issue?

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-11-09T10:40:18+00:00

    I am also having the same issue and it is driving me insane, I already have tinnitus to deal with!

    I did notice that for a brief second the buzzing goes as you remove the power cable, then returns. That surely means it is power related, either battery or PSU?

    Either way, this needs to be fixed.

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