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
    2020-03-19T09:24:32+00:00

    Surface Windows 10. Laptop 13.5'' Purchased at Best Buy Wed March 18 2020. Breaking into what is now a little over 24 hours of having purchased. Using laptop for basic school , homework, watching online class videos, nothing fancy, really. Humming began today. I would say I've had the computer on for a total of 7 hours since purchase. Nothing has been downloaded other than the Microsoft Edge browser which was recommended by one of the store employees. I do not attribute the download of the web browser to the humming however. I am going to take this beast into the store tomorrow and will update on what I am told.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-03-21T03:04:54+00:00

    I took it in and was told the cooling fan i had it was was obstructing part of the fan. Purchased a different cooling mat, not that it needs one but i like to take care of my things, and all is well once more.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-03-27T03:18:35+00:00

    Had 13" 256SSD Surface Laptop 3 for less than 24 hours and this buzzing is driving me insane.

    Found that noise stops when either audio playback or audio recording troubleshooters. However disabling sound/microphone devices doesn't make noise stop.

    Going to have to switch for another laptop.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-03-27T09:13:18+00:00

    I also tried

    the second laptop was also noisy

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-03-30T16:05:13+00:00

    The buzz can apparently cause a lot more than just annoyance.  This is what is causing my external monitors to be blurry/fuzzy/not work too.

    Disabling the CPU idle states is definitely a workaround, and now all of my external inputs work perfectly, but in no way a fix.  Everyone should expect better from a high-end (high priced) laptop.

    I also noticed the "electric current" feeling from the metal parts of my surface while charging is gone after disabling the CPU idle state.  That happen to anyone else?

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