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
    2020-10-15T14:54:56+00:00

    I have had my Surface Laptop 3 for 7 months and today it just started the weird buzzing sound. It happens when on power and on battery. I only use my laptop for office and web browsing (no gaming). Not sure what's causing this, but its very distracting.

    Second day dealing with this issue and it sounds like the fan is going insane full speed and today is louder than when it started yesterday. I did an update this morning, restarted, but nothing has changed. Would be nice if someone from Microsoft would pop in and address this. I paid $1200 for this laptop 7 months ago and expect it to not sound like an airplane about to take off.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-10-15T04:24:55+00:00

    My machine is louder and louder, whether it is computing or not.  It also overheats.  I cannot use it to Zoom because no one can hear over the roar.

    What a sad situation that Microsoft takes no responsibility for the hundreds of machines they sold with the loud buzzing.  They obviously are not concerned about their reputation for dependability.  I guess our only option is to unload this machine and switch to a different brand.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-14T18:58:23+00:00

    I have had my Surface Laptop 3 for 7 months and today it just started the weird buzzing sound. It happens when on power and on battery. I only use my laptop for office and web browsing (no gaming). Not sure what's causing this, but its very distracting.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-10T11:08:34+00:00

    I have the same issue with my surface laptop 3. I thought a few people would notice this but this is a serious issue and the laptops should have been repaired by Microsoft. Looks like they don't have any solution for it.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-10-08T05:20:33+00:00

    Same problem, it's ridiculous. How are you going to pay $1,200 or whatever for an oversized mosquito? The replacement I got was even louder and has a black screen come on. Just don't buy Microsoft next time, legitimately the most irritating thing I've ever encountered with a laptop.

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