Which toner fits the Lexmark MX317dn?

50,000 pages a month: what that figure means

Lexmark quotes this machine a duty cycle of up to 50,000 pages a month. Set against a cartridge's 2,500 pages, that would mean twenty toners a month — a pace no office of this size ever reaches.

That is because the cycle does not describe a use but a mechanical limit: the number of pages the engine can take without breaking before the warranty stops applying. It serves to compare the robustness of two machines, never to estimate consumption. For that, only one figure counts: the number of pages you actually print each month, divided by the cartridge's 2,500.

What the MX adds to the MS

The MX317dn is the multifunction: it scans, copies and faxes, with an automatic document feeder and a 6 cm colour screen. Its built-in tray holds 250 sheets, supplemented by a 50-sheet multi-purpose feeder and a 150-sheet output bin. Duplex is built in, and it connects over Ethernet or USB.

None of those functions touches the toner: scanning to email or to a USB stick uses nothing. Copying, on the other hand, uses exactly as much as printing — which is generally what explains why a multifunction empties its cartridges faster than the plain printer standing next to it.

Is there a high-capacity version?

The 51B series offers several capacities depending on the model, but not all of them are approved for every machine: Lexmark ties specific part numbers to each chassis. For the MX317dn, the 51B5000 is the base part number and the safe choice; check exact compatibility before ordering a higher capacity.