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
    2020-06-12T16:30:34+00:00

    Of course, your reasoning is worthwile we’re all just disappointed in using escamotages like these on a machine worth 1500$. 

    having said that, i’ll wait mine that should arrive next week and keep you posted. 

    if the problem will still be there, and i think it’s the case, i’ll disable touchscreen rather than installing new softwares to reduce CPU performances.  

    Just a note, but disabling the CPU idling probably will have the opposite effect and increase performance when you have sudden high usage processes, as the CPU is never idle.  That comes at the cost of battery life, which is usually unwanted for portable devices.  It's also a setting built into Windows, nothing external.

    I bought the higher end one when I did it, so around $2600. I'm right there with you on being disappointed.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-06-13T09:10:47+00:00

    Makes sense mate, you're right. 

    As I said, I rather sacrificing the touchscreen than using escamotage on CPU idling. 

    Hope this will eliminate the buzzing definitely. Will keep you posted as I should receive the refurbished unit mid next week.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-06-16T14:59:24+00:00

    Just received the new unit black. 

    Atm, seems like the coil whining (static buzzing) is not present. 

    Do you have an idea guys how to trigger it instantly? So at least I can be 100% i have a working unit. 

    Many thanks

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-19T02:02:14+00:00

    I would like to provide my experience as well.

    It's been 2-3 weeks since I've had it. This past week, lets say 3 days ago I started noticing that it would overheat while charging and hearing the fan. The first time I freaked out and turned it off, verify that everything was well. I thought it was just me, thats until finding this forum and several others. Fast forward to today, I was simply browsing the web, connected the charger and it instantly overheated. I felt as I was being burned by fire. Then, it started freezing and afterwards, simply crashed. After trying to turn it off and opening the task manager it appeared the blue screen of death. Right now is just a piece of garbage in my eyes.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-31T15:45:14+00:00

    I got the exact same problem, I've purchase my surface laptop 3 blue cobalt in replacement of my macbook air ( i regret so much). Since November i got 3 differents devices, and all had the same problem this faint electric noise.

    The support recommends that I send it back for the 4th time.

    Someone does have a unit without this issue ?

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