Question Strange Laptop Noise

[Omega83]

Hi guys. My laptop is making a strange noise that sounds like static. I doubt it is coming from the fans, as I cleaned them out thoroughly. Also, the sound only occurs when my laptop is plugged in, and turned on. If the laptop is plugged in, but is turned off, the sound isn't there. Also, the sound is not there when laptop is just running off the battery. What do you guys think is going on here? Thoughts and help greatly appreciated

 

[Omega83]

Hi guys. At first I thought the strange noise was just coming from the laptop. A little bit ago, I found the first point of the noise which turns out to be the laptops power supply/brick. In turn, it is causing same noise in the laptop. My question now is, could it be the power supply that is the issue? I did notice severe performance degradation in games while power supply is plugged in and being used. Could the noise in laptop and the power supply be related to game performance decrease? Help GREATLY appreciated

 

[Zed Clampet]

My question now is, could it be the power supply that is the issue?

I don't see any way that it couldn't be the power supply, and I wouldn't use the laptop until I got a new one.

Yes, it can impact performance, fry all your components, etc.

 

[Omega83]

I don't see any way that it couldn't be the power supply, and I wouldn't use the laptop until I got a new one.

Yes, it can impact performance, fry all your components, etc.

Thank you so much for the info and help! I have laptop running on just battery for now. Do you think it is safe to have it plugged in for charging if laptop is turned off?

 

[Zed Clampet]

Thank you so much for the info and help! I have laptop running on just battery for now. Do you think it is safe to have it plugged in for charging if laptop is turned off?

It's a risk. No way to really get more specific. If you are in the US, you could probably have one delivered tomorrow using Amazon if you have Amazon Prime

 

[mjs warlord]

Do not use until sorted .... whilst on holiday i once plugged in a laptop to charge up before going for a walk around the village , wife says dont leave it where you put it , put it on kitchen worktop , got hold of it to move it and psu brick was red hot ..... i unplugged it and put it outside in case it ignited.

I think the wife saved us from having a fire in the apartment

 

[Omega83]

Hi again guys. I got the new power supply from Amazon yesterday. As soon as I plugged it in, the power supply started smoking. The Amazon store page said that the 230w power supply was supposed to be compatible with my GP 17 (Eluktronics Max 17). Should I order a power supply directly from Eluktronics? My laptop is quickly running out of battery power and am not sure how to proceed. With the old power supply that came with my laptop, it was making a noise that in turn was making same noise in my laptop, and game performance is severely decreased. Help greatly appreciated ☺️

 

[Zed Clampet]

Hi again guys. I got the new power supply from Amazon yesterday. As soon as I plugged it in, the power supply started smoking. The Amazon store page said that the 230w power supply was supposed to be compatible with my GP 17 (Eluktronics Max 17). Should I order a power supply directly from Eluktronics? My laptop is quickly running out of battery power and am not sure how to proceed. With the old power supply that came with my laptop, it was making a noise that in turn was making same noise in my laptop, and game performance is severely decreased. Help greatly appreciated ☺️

Well, that's not good. Based on what you are describing, there must be a short in the laptop, possibly caused by an electrical surge due to the first brick failing. A better answer, though, is that an electrical surge killed both your brick and something inside your laptop. Is the laptop connected to any sort of surge protector? The most likely problem now is the input MOSFETs, but the only way to know is to open the laptop and check it with a multimeter. At this stage, I would either return the laptop if it is still under warranty or if you bought the insurance (which is always good to do with gaming laptops). Or I would take it to a computer repair shop if you have one in town. I'm afraid there isn't a solution that gets you back up and running immediately other than buying something like a Steam Deck or another laptop. Or you could diagnose it and replace it yourself, but it sounds like you are new to this sort of thing. Of course, you won't learn without doing the work, but this laptop is in constant high risk of complete catastrophe because of the short.

For future reference, your laptop's performance problem is because it isn't getting any power from the power pack. Power is still going to the battery, but not to the motherboard. Laptops are set up to significantly reduce power when running only on the battery. I could tell you how to fix that, but then your battery would probably just die 15-30 minutes later.

Edit: I searched for your laptop and the input MOSFETs, and the AI answered "Eluktronics Max 17 laptops often experience no-power, "dead" motherboard symptoms due to a common failure of the input power MOSFETs. These, usually N-channel, MOSFETs short out, preventing the 19V DC input from reaching the motherboard, often caused by thermal stress or electrical surges. Diagnostic: A short is detected on the drain of the MOSFETs using a multimeter in continuity mode (0 ohms)."

 

[Omega83]

What do you guys recommend I do? The laptop is no longer under warranty and I previously took it to best buy geek squad, and a local repair shop, neither knew what was going on with my laptop

 

[Omega83]

Well, that's not good. Based on what you are describing, there must be a short in the laptop, possibly caused by an electrical surge due to the first brick failing. A better answer, though, is that an electrical surge killed both your brick and something inside your laptop. Is the laptop connected to any sort of surge protector? The most likely problem now is the input MOSFETs, but the only way to know is to open the laptop and check it with a multimeter. At this stage, I would either return the laptop if it is still under warranty or if you bought the insurance (which is always good to do with gaming laptops). Or I would take it to a computer repair shop if you have one in town. I'm afraid there isn't a solution that gets you back up and running immediately other than buying something like a Steam Deck or another laptop. Or you could diagnose it and replace it yourself, but it sounds like you are new to this sort of thing. Of course, you won't learn without doing the work, but this laptop is in constant high risk of complete catastrophe because of the short.

For future reference, your laptop's performance problem is because it isn't getting any power from the power pack. Power is still going to the battery, but not to the motherboard. Laptops are set up to significantly reduce power when running only on the battery. I could tell you how to fix that, but then your battery would probably just die 15-30 minutes later.

Edit: I searched for your laptop and the input MOSFETs, and the AI answered "Eluktronics Max 17 laptops often experience no-power, "dead" motherboard symptoms due to a common failure of the input power MOSFETs. These, usually N-channel, MOSFETs short out, preventing the 19V DC input from reaching the motherboard, often caused by thermal stress or electrical surges. Diagnostic: A short is detected on the drain of the MOSFETs using a multimeter in continuity mode (0 ohms)."

How can this issue be resolved/fixed? Is it worth fixing? Help appreciated

 

[Zed Clampet]

How can this issue be resolved/fixed? Is it worth fixing? Help appreciated

If I were you, I'd just find the nearest computer shop and get them to fix it. We aren't even 100 percent sure what the problem is. They'll be able to properly diagnose it and let you know what needs to be done. If the problem is what I said it is, it won't be too expensive to get fixed.

 

[Omega83]

If I were you, I'd just find the nearest computer shop and get them to fix it. We aren't even 100 percent sure what the problem is. They'll be able to properly diagnose it and let you know what needs to be done. If the problem is what I said it is, it won't be too expensive to get fixed.

I made an appointment with best buy geek squad. Would they have experience with laptop motherboard repair?

 

[Zed Clampet]

I made an appointment with best buy geek squad. Would they have experience with laptop motherboard repair?

I've never used them, but they should be able to handle that.

 

[Omega83]

Hi guys, here is where I am at with my laptop: Best Buy Geek Squad was unable to do anything as it was a custom built laptop and not name brand (Lenovo, HP, etc.). Not sure what is going on, but said that it could still be used as a normal/basic laptop, just not for gaming. I am starting to look at prices for another laptop, at best buy and preferably with a longer warranty. My price range is just over 1k though. What do you guys recommend? Help appreciated

 

[Colif]

Best Buy Geek Squad was unable to do anything as it was a custom built laptop and not name brand (Lenovo, HP, etc.).

they don't exist here - Geek squad I mean - but that is strange. I don't know their policies but it seems they only support the big OEM. Amazed they didn't try to sell you something

You could try a smaller repair store.

I don't know laptops so I will sit this out.

 

[Omega83]

Hi again. Since I am looking for another laptop, what do you guys recommend in my price range? What should I be looking for or considering in a laptop that will be used primarily for gaming? Further thoughts and help appreciated

 

[Pifanjr]

The main website has an article about gaming laptops:

Cheap gaming laptop deals this week

A running list of the best cheap gaming laptop deals we can find, updated throughout the week.

www.pcgamer.com

 

[Zed Clampet]

Hi again. Since I am looking for another laptop, what do you guys recommend in my price range? What should I be looking for or considering in a laptop that will be used primarily for gaming? Further thoughts and help appreciated

There aren't any privately owned computer shops in your area?

You should be looking for either a Lenovo or HP. Lenovo are extremely reliable and are generally very affordable, as well.

In that price range, the RTX 5050 Nvidia GPU is probably where you will end up. Unfortunately, AMD GPUs are basically not in laptops at this point.

You need at least 16 GB of RAM

No laptop is going to provide you with a warranty like you need. When you go to Best Buy, they will offer you an extended warranty. You should get it.

This is a solid budget laptop:

Amazon.com: Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 15.6" FHD IPS 144Hz (100% sRGB, G-SYNC) Intel 10-core i5-13450HX 16GB RAM 512GB SSD GeForce RTX 5050 DLSS4 (440 AI Tops) Backlit Nahimic 5MP Privacy Camera Win11 ICP Hub : Electronics

Amazon.com: Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 15.6" FHD IPS 144Hz (100% sRGB, G-SYNC) Intel 10-core i5-13450HX 16GB RAM 512GB SSD GeForce RTX 5050 DLSS4 (440 AI Tops) Backlit Nahimic 5MP Privacy Camera Win11 ICP Hub : Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

[Omega83]

Thanks for the info guys. I have been looking at several laptops on best buy site, and am thinking about taking one of the 4TB SSDs in my current laptop out to put in the new one when I eventually get it. My current laptop has 2 4TB SSDs in NVME. What do I need to look at for storage expansion? Is NVMe the same as PCIe? One of the laptops I am looking at currently has 2 m2 slots. Help greatly appreciated

 

[Omega83]

There aren't any privately owned computer shops in your area?

You should be looking for either a Lenovo or HP. Lenovo are extremely reliable and are generally very affordable, as well.

In that price range, the RTX 5050 Nvidia GPU is probably where you will end up. Unfortunately, AMD GPUs are basically not in laptops at this point.

You need at least 16 GB of RAM

No laptop is going to provide you with a warranty like you need. When you go to Best Buy, they will offer you an extended warranty. You should get it.

This is a solid budget laptop:

Amazon.com: Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 15.6" FHD IPS 144Hz (100% sRGB, G-SYNC) Intel 10-core i5-13450HX 16GB RAM 512GB SSD GeForce RTX 5050 DLSS4 (440 AI Tops) Backlit Nahimic 5MP Privacy Camera Win11 ICP Hub : Electronics

Amazon.com: Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop 15.6" FHD IPS 144Hz (100% sRGB, G-SYNC) Intel 10-core i5-13450HX 16GB RAM 512GB SSD GeForce RTX 5050 DLSS4 (440 AI Tops) Backlit Nahimic 5MP Privacy Camera Win11 ICP Hub : Electronics

www.amazon.com

I went to a local repair shop before going to best buy a 2nd time. They would have charged 70 for diagnostic, with no guarantee of fixing my current laptop. At best buy, they said my current laptop is still usable for basic stuff, but not for heavy gaming, which is what I originally purchased it for.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Thanks for the info guys. I have been looking at several laptops on best buy site, and am thinking about taking one of the 4TB SSDs in my current laptop out to put in the new one when I eventually get it. My current laptop has 2 4TB SSDs in NVME. What do I need to look at for storage expansion? Is NVMe the same as PCIe? One of the laptops I am looking at currently has 2 m2 slots. Help greatly appreciated

Repair places always charge something for diagnostics. If Best Buy just told you they didn't work on custom laptops, how do they know what it's usable for? They don't even know what is wrong with it. Maybe they mean that with it only running on battery, it wouldn't be good for heavy workloads like games. But since you are willing to sacrifice this laptop, go into Advanced Power Options, which will open up a new window. In this window will be a lot of your components. Go down to the CPU and change all the values for "battery" to 100 percent. This should make it run normally even off the battery. The battery will die quickly, but you could keep it plugged in while using it. Just be sure to unplug it when you are done or you could burn your house down. To be clear, it is not safe to plug in something that has a short in it no matter what the Geek Squad tells you, but as long as you unplug it when you are done, it might be okay.

Is NVMe the same as PCIe?

The PCIe is what you connect the NVMe to.

 

[Omega83]

I don't really want to sacrifice this laptop, just want to use it as long as I am able to until I get a new one. Both Best Buy and the local repair shop were unable to really help me as both have no idea what is causing the noise in both the power supply, and in turn the laptop. Since warranty expired 4+ years ago, am not sure what else I can do...

 

[Zed Clampet]

I don't really want to sacrifice this laptop, just want to use it as long as I am able to until I get a new one. Both Best Buy and the local repair shop were unable to really help me as both have no idea what is causing the noise in both the power supply, and in turn the laptop. Since warranty expired 4+ years ago, am not sure what else I can do...

There are a number of different things that could cause a humming sound in a laptop.

1 Arcing. This is dangerous. It is when electricity jumps across the gap of a short. Not all shorts have gaps, but if this is happening then it's a serious fire hazard.

2 If a component has failed or shorted, then the rapid switching of voltage could cause capacitors to hum (and eventually destroy them).

3) If too much power is hitting the coils (inductors) they will vibrate at a high frequency.

4) If a component has shorted, you can actually get a hum through the speakers, but I'm not going to explain this one

 

[Omega83]

Hi again. I am hoping to get a new laptop sometime soon, but what should I do with my current one? Is it safe to sell "as is", or should I not sell it due to possible short in it and/or power supply?

 

[Zed Clampet]

Hi again. I am hoping to get a new laptop sometime soon, but what should I do with my current one? Is it safe to sell "as is", or should I not sell it due to possible short in it and/or power supply?

You need to either recycle it or be completely upfront with it likely having a short and only being useful for whatever components it has that aren't damaged. There are plenty of people who might be interested in salvaging parts from it.