How much memory for an office laser printer...

[So]

My boss decided we needed a new color laser printer that could do 11x17, and assigned the secretary to research it and decide which model printer to get. (1st mistake )

She is looking at getting a printer with 96MB or ram, and then adding another 128 to that. Now this printer will likely get moderate use (not the primary printer), and I cannot imagine it ever needing more than 96 megabytes.

Am I crazy or are they just going to be throwing the money away (I ask becasue I might be able to stop them if it's as crazy as it seems)

 

[Algere]

May be a waste if it's only for moderate use.

 

[So]

Can you see it ever needing more than 96 mb? I mean we're not talking a plotter here. Admittely the b&w laser that does 11x17 does run out of memory fairly often, but it has 4 mb.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Well, 11*600 dpi * 17 * 600 dpi * 3 (24 bit color) = 201 MB for a full uncompressed page buffer.

For printing 11x17 pages that are graphics-heavy, or for a resolution above 600 dpi, it doesn't seem crazy to me, though I have no idea how often the extra memory will actually be used.

 

[So]

Okay. Well, I looked at the secretary's sheet...HP is charging $479, for that 128mb upgrade. What type of memory is it you ask? Simple PC100 Sdram. The memory Crucial's memory selector reccomends for this printer? 128mb = ~$50

crucial

 

[dullard]

I routinely use more than 6 MB for a 8"x11" black and white printing. Thus I'd need ~12 MB for a 11"x17" black and white printing. This is after compression. Needing nearly 48 MB for color is not unheard of. And that would be just for one page. If you want fast printing of multiple complex color documents, you'd need to be able to hold at least two pages in memory at the same time. Thus 96 MB is just fine (and possibly required depending on your usage). I think the extra 128 MB is overkill. But what does 128 MB cost now, $25?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: So
Okay. Well, I looked at the secretary's sheet...HP is charging $479, for that 128mb upgrade. What type of memory is it you ask? Simple PC100 Sdram. The memory Crucial's memory selector reccomends for this printer? 128mb = ~$50

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=HP%2BLaserJet&mfr=HP&cat=RAM&model=Color+LaserJet+5500+Series&submit=Go

Yes, you are always screwed getting printer memory from the manufacturer. Paying 5 times the going rate is typical. That Crucial memory will run just fine.

 

[So]

10x thats still...:shocked:

 

[lookouthere]

Originally posted by: So
Okay. Well, I looked at the secretary's sheet...HP is charging $479, for that 128mb upgrade. What type of memory is it you ask? Simple PC100 Sdram. The memory Crucial's memory selector reccomends for this printer? 128mb = ~$50

crucial

just tell them that you could double the memory with 1/4 the price

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: So
Okay. Well, I looked at the secretary's sheet...HP is charging $479, for that 128mb upgrade. What type of memory is it you ask? Simple PC100 Sdram. The memory Crucial's memory selector reccomends for this printer? 128mb = ~$50

crucial

So show her the Crucial lifetime guarantee, guaranteed compatibility, and point out that using it will not void the manufacturer warranty. Problem solved.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: So
Okay. Well, I looked at the secretary's sheet...HP is charging $479, for that 128mb upgrade. What type of memory is it you ask? Simple PC100 Sdram. The memory Crucial's memory selector reccomends for this printer? 128mb = ~$50

crucial

So show her the Crucial lifetime guarantee, guaranteed compatibility, and point out that using it will not void the manufacturer warranty. Problem solved.

I have already made her aware of the price difference and the crucial lifetime warranty, but I would like to be able to prove to her that it won't void HP's warranty, any idea where I can find proof?

Oh, btw, if it's not obvious already the model being looked at is an HP Color LaserJet 5500

 

[DaveSimmons]

I think it's some US commercial code on "user-installable parts" or similar, Google might find it or there might even be a FAQ on the Crucial or HP website.

Most printers are designed for users to install the upgrade, you install the RAM by popping off a panel just like on a laptop. It could (probably should) even be removed if the printer ever needed to be sent in for service.

 

[So]

Well, I sold her on the crucial route (which gave the best option for the least money) but she had to go with the most expensive option (which only had 160mb of memory), not because she was afraid of crucial, but because our IT guy felt that the IT guy in Reno that handles purchasing wouldn't want to do it .

Oh well. Can't say I didn't try. Chalk more waste up to red tape.

 

[Anonemous]

well it's your company's loss and HP's gain.

 

[spidey07]

I've seen many printers run out of memory, no matter how much they have.

If its a large job with graphics or photos...

IMHO you can never have too much printer memory.

 

[Shide1]

I have owned quite a few color laser printers over the years. They are memory hogs. When it comes to sending a multipage color job to the printer, it certainly helps to have more memory. The less memory they have, the slow they get.

 

[zephyrprime]

Well, 11*600 dpi * 17 * 600 dpi * 3 (24 bit color) = 201 MB for a full uncompressed page buffer.

Laser printers only have 2 bit color.

So, 600*600*11*17*2/8 = 17MB for 1 page. You'll want 2 pages worth of memory or you might get a delay between pages.

Boy, this printer's resolution sucks. I have a color laser and let me tell you, you need all the resolution you can get. The print quality of a color laser isn't very good at all compared to any inkjet printer. Get something a lot better.