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
    2020-12-10T22:48:03+00:00

    Hi. I have exactly the same problem. Static/buzzing sound from the right corner. Any solutions yet? 

    Not exactly. After I swapped 2 laptops (this is 3rd one), one strange thing I noticed was laptops fans rev up. However, they stop after closing the application causing this (like webcam software, video conf, windows updates, etc.) 

    Previously once the fans start and run for about 5 min - they wouldn't stop until I restart the laptop.

    look for which process is chewing highest CPU - I noticed "System interrupts" so quick research on google, and I disabled "wake on LAN" in device manager under LAN WIFi adapter settings

    If you place your ear behind the laptop (where the power button is), you may sometimes hear constant static noise, and it was obvious on my previous laptops, this recently swapped piece I can barely hear it or sometimes non-existing

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-12-12T19:01:41+00:00

    I would like to announce that with the latest update (November) in the Operating System that all concerns seems to have been resolved with my many Surface products .... Hope it stays this way ........

    I've noticed the fan noise has subsided. For now. Been burned in the past so I'll give it a few days. A simple "HEY WE HAVE A FIX COMING" from Microsoft would have been nice. Guess that's asking too much. Great customer service. 

    Update: Literally 5 minutes after plugging my SL3 back onto the charger brick the fan started going nuts again. So this problem is not fixed.

    FYI I did a warranty exchange with Microsoft. Been using the new laptop MS sent for a few days and I haven't had any fan noise. I will be reinstalling my anti virus software and then waiting a few days. Then the same with my Adobe products. Just to see if any of those products starts the aggressive/loud fan issues. Hopefully this computer works out. I will say MS customer service rep was very nice and the exchange process was very easy. Fingers crossed.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-13T01:31:01+00:00

    send it back.  The irritating buzz gets worse.  In fact, my buzz is very loud.  I cannot even Zoom because the sound drowns out the microphone.

    Microsoft has been absolutely irresponsible about this problem.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-12-25T19:51:44+00:00

    I really wish they would fix this with an update of some kind.

    I literally switched from my gaming laptop to the Microsoft Surface simply because I wanted a laptop that was quiet.

    Now I'm having issues with the sound and its making it hard for me to concentrate and do my work.

    I payed over $1,500 for a laptop that has issues that a $500 laptop wouldn't even have.

    I'm genuinely thinking of a refund right now...

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-26T00:47:35+00:00

    It didn't work for me :(

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