Surface Laptop 3 Faint Buzzing Sound

Hello all,

I have tried something and it looks like I found a solution, at least one that works for me.

As already known the speed stepping of the processor causes the buzzing sound. 

So far it was recommended to disable the C2 and C3 states in the registry or to install a program that prevents the processor from going into the corresponding C states.

I took a closer look at the C-States with the free tool "Throttle stop". 

Overall, the processor goes from C0 to C8 depending on the load, where C8 is the highest energy saving mode for the processor.

Using "Throttle Stop", you can now gradually switch off the highest states. You'll notice that the buzzing noise disappears when you turn off the states C7 and C8. This means that the processor can still use the states up to C6 to save energy. The differences in energy consumption between C6 and C8 are marginal.

Throttle Stop even shows a higher energy consumption in C8 than in C6.

I did a test run, once with the default setting and once with the locked states C7 and C8. As a result, there was no difference in power consumption (1h idle test with screen on, both runs consumed ~7% battery).

I'll see if I can post a picture of the configuration of Throttle Stop here.

Personally, I'm very happy with the result as at first glance it has no negative impact on battery and performance and the buzzing has disappeared as mentioned.

The only thing I noticed is that the processor in the State C6 does not clock down as much compared to the C8, but I did not notice any increased processor temperatures during idle on my model.

Use throttle stop on your own risk!

1. Click on C10 (is the default value)
2. Click on the expand button
3. select C6 from the drop down menu
4. click apply (choose C10 to revert to default setting)

The buzzing sound should be gone now.

You can configure Throttle Stop under options to start automatically with Windows on every reboot.

Btw: Use the other options of throttle stop only if you know what you are doing!

I think the truth of it is this is flaw is just something the design team thought would be negligible. It was consistent across my three laptops and apparently 204 (at time of writing) others at minimum. I think the only possible solution is live with it or return it. 

My guess is this is not an error, but a calculated decision that would be too expensive to fix for the small demographic of people who are in quiet enough work environments with sensitive enough ears to notice.

They are willing to accept exchanges (over and over) and refund it, so in my opinion their customer service is fine. It’s just too bad their product isn’t quite up to the standard that their reputation and price points would lead you to expect.

My second post in the forum, I've been discussing this issue with the Microsoft team for over a week now. They asked me to update my laptop and run the diagnostic test, which I did. After I sent the results (no fault in the system was the result), they simply sent the following to me: 

"They sound that if the sound ig grinding sound that its no longer normal. If you wish to have the device replaced, they suggest to take it to the local MS Store so you can requeest for an exchange.

If the sound is a buzzing, then our higher support teamn said it is still normal for as long as its not too loud. If you find it very unpleasant, you can alwasy take it back to the local MS Store to request for an exchange.

For now, we will just close this case as we have already provided you all the information. Thank you so much for your time."

The following was my reply to them: 

Hey Ian,

I'm not sure if you are reading your very own official Microsoft forum. There are many customers who got their laptop replaced and their replacements have also had this sound. What's the point of going through the entire process if you cannot guarantee me a niggle free laptop and please don't tell me the sound is normal. This is NOT my first laptop that I have owned, this is definitely the last Microsoft laptop I am purchasing though. One of the most valuable companies in the world and your great senior team cannot figure out the root cause for the problem. PATHETIC. On top of this, you have the audacity to close my complaint without solving it. You cannot close it without me telling you I'm satisfied with your service, which I'm clearly not. 

What Pathetic customer service, very very DISAPPOINTED IN MICROSOFT. So much for trusting Windows/Microsoft.

I purchased an i7/16GB/256GB. I have the exact same problem, a buzzing sound near the F12 key. If this a problem for a lot of people and a replacement does not solve the problem, then the only option it to wait for a month for Microsoft to come up with a software update or return the product and get the refund. It gets very annoying when I am studying at a quiet place. My 6 year old MacBook Pro still runs flawlessly with no problems. Disappointed with Microsoft.

This is most likely a hardware fault and could even be a design fault that's hard to do anything about, and It's probably not a big enough fault to warrent a recall. I mean, seems like a lot of computers (or even gameconsoles, phones etc.) have problems that shouldn't be happening, not just buzzing/coil whine but all kinds of different faults, but these fault are still happening, and they are usually not fixed unless It's something that makes the machine unuseable for a huge amount of users (like the butterfly keyboard on macs).

Hopefully the problem will be better on future production lines of the SL3, but even that might not happen. 

But of course it is a shame, and makes what is a pretty exclusive and tempting looking computer, feel kind of cheap. 

I still have a small hope that a firmware update or some other fix could make the sound less pronounced. It seems to me that the sound does change or even almost disappears under certain circumstances.