Surface Pro 4, annoying noise from the back!

Anonymous
2015-11-27T23:44:34+00:00

Can someone explain why the back of my surface pro 4 (only when the brightness isn't 0% or 100%) makes a noise?

For example, when it is on 25% of brightness it starts making a strange noise slight like a whistling...

Can someone help me?

Surface | Surface Pro | Power and battery

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T17:59:51+00:00

    I have SP4 i5/8GB/256GB and the same issue with the noise by the brightness level.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-08T03:57:49+00:00

    I don't want to rehash too much, but here's a summary of all the information I have so far for anyone who is interested:

    • My Surface Pro 4 i5 4GB/128GB emits a faint high-pitched noise/whine.  The noise is very similar to the sound of ringing in the ears after hearing a loud sound.  It can be most clearly heard along the top edge of the tablet next to the camera sensors, but also on the top right edge and bottom right edge.  This whine cannot be easily noticed when there are ambient sounds; however, it is very disturbing when I'm studying in a library or quiet room.
    • The noise is affected by the brightness level:
      • It is most quiet at 0% and 100% brightness.
      • It is progressively louder from 25% to 75% brightness.
    • The registry hack mentioned earlier in this thread did not affect the noise (unless I performed it incorrectly - I received a command prompt error message when deleting the setting that said the setting was not there, even though I added it w/ admin privileges).
    • I have been able to rule out the following causes:
      • The CPU fan
      • The audio speakers
      • The sound is not the ringing in my own ears - I can control the level by changing the screen brightness
    • The sound was not present on my Surface Pro 3
    • I have heard the sound on multiple units:
      • The sound was present on my Surface Pro 4 as soon as I turned it on for the first time, and remained even after I installed all available updates.
      • I recently received two replacement units, and it was present on both units immediately after booting them up, and remained after installing all updates.
      • I have since checked other SP4 i5 units at the Microsoft Store and Best Buy, and I can hear the sound on all of them.
    • Other people have confirmed they also can hear the high-pitched sound:
      • People I know and one technician at the Microsoft Store said they could hear the sound.
      • SP4 owners on various forums have confirmed that they can also hear the sound.  These include owners of my version (i5 4GB/128GB), as well as m3 versions. For example:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/3s19nu/very\_high\_pitched\_noise\_coming\_from\_sp4/

    Information I would like to gather:

    • Is this issue present on other configurations of the Surface Pro 4, such as the i5/8GB/256GB and i7 versions?
    • Will Microsoft release a software/firmware update that addresses this issue?  If so, when?

    UPDATE: (01/08)

    Users have stated they have the high-pitched noise with the following models:

    • Core m3
    • Core i5 4GB/128GB
    • Core i5 8GB/256GB

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-07T23:15:15+00:00

    I'm at the Microsoft Store right now trying to work this out.  The technician has been very helpful and patient with me as I've been trying to describe a problem that only some people can hear.  I've checked multiple Surface Pro 4 i5 tablets in the store, and I can hear the sound on every one I've checked.  They gave me a second replacement unit, and after installing all updates, I can still hear the high-pitched sound.  I'm trying to figure out what to do next.  Does anyone know who I can contact to find out whether this is an issue that will be addressed in a future update?  If the issue will be addressed, then I will keep the tablet.  If not, I will likely have to return the device :-(

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-07T22:18:17+00:00

    Guys, I'm having the exact same problem with a SP4 128 gb Intel Core M! I have been using it for a week, but it only started tonight!

    What's exactly the solution which would affect the battery?

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-01-07T05:59:27+00:00

    This could be linked to the audio devices (speakers). I mean the sound/noise generated from other hardware modules (graphics, touch...) could be bleeding through the speakers while scrolling web pages with rich contents, watching videos, high brightness settings, white screen contents...

    Try muting the audio and check it if you can still here the noise.

    I would suggest replacing the device otherwise.

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