Laptop "Coil Whine" (High-pitched noise)

4.5

You hear a very faint, high-pitched "screeching" or "buzzing" coming from inside the laptop.

Symptoms
  • High-pitched noise
  • Buzzing
  • Noise changes with load
Possible Causes
  • Vibrating inductors (coils)
  • High power draw

Step-by-Step Fix

1

Disable C-States in BIOS

Can sometimes stop the noise by preventing the CPU from entering low-power modes.

2

Cap Frame Rate in Games

Coil whine is often loudest when the GPU is pushing hundreds of FPS.

3

Use a Different Power Outlet

Dirty power can sometimes exacerbate electrical noise.

When to See a Technician

Coil whine is not a defect and won't damage your laptop, but it can be very annoying in a quiet room.

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