Bizarre MS surface laptop issue
Bizarre MS surface laptop issue
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PaulD86

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

156 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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In short, my work supplied Microsoft Surface laptop makes a constant quiet buzzing sound. It sounds electrical more than fan and doesn't alter if I give the thing a bit of a dunt or move it. It does, however, stop entirely in one very specific situation - when I'm using the scroll wheel on the mouse that I have connected to it via a docking station. The docking station is a powered one and the laptop buzzes when it is disconnected. But connect the dock and use the scroll wheel and it is silent.

I'm highly doubtful there is going to be an obvious solution for this, but thought I'd throw it out there as it is starting to really bug my happiness and you don't know if you don't ask.

Anyone else had any such weirdness?

walamai

459 posts

237 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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My guess would be a faulty power supply. And by chance when you use the mouse it is drawing just the right amount of power that the 'harmonic' sound of the power supply changes and 'fixes' it.

I've had a similar thing in a desktop power supply. It made different 'clicky' and 'scratchy' noises depending on what apps you had open!

In your case it's a fault, it definitely shouldn't be audible ever.

Steven_RW

1,766 posts

232 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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As said, coil whine. Driven by PSU or GPU. Scrolling probably changes what is on the display that aligns with the usage and load on the coils.

If it bothers you, it needs to go back asap.

Cheers

RW

PaulD86

Original Poster:

1,844 posts

156 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
quotequote all
Thanks guys. Hopefully I am getting the machine replaced with an upgraded item. Meanwhile, music is drowning out the noise.