SKU:

MW685

Printer Brand:

Dell

OEM Number:

310-8710

Ink Color:

Black

Page Yield:

30,000 Pages

Printer Type:

Drum Unit

Condition:

New Compatible

Frequently Asked Questions

Our prints have started showing lines, spots and a gray haze — is the drum the problem?

Very likely, yes. The drum is the part that transfers the image onto the paper, and as it wears you get exactly those symptoms: vertical lines, dark spots that repeat at the same place on page after page, an overall gray background, and prints that look faded even though the toner cartridge still has plenty left. When the marks repeat in a pattern and a fresh toner cartridge does not fix them, the 310-8710 drum unit is the part to change.

Is the 310-8710 a toner cartridge, or something different?

Something different. On the Dell Laser 1720, the toner cartridge and the drum unit are two separate parts. The toner cartridge holds the black powder; the 310-8710 is the drum unit that takes that powder and puts the image on the page. They wear out on different schedules — you will change toner more than once over the life of one drum — and replacing one does not replace the other. This listing is the drum unit only, in black, and it contains no toner.

How long does one of these drum units last?

The 310-8710 is rated for up to 30,000 pages. At $60.21 that works out to roughly two-tenths of a cent per page for the drum's share of your printing cost — a small number, but one that buys you clean pages instead of streaked ones. How long that takes in calendar terms depends on your volume: a lightly used Laser 1720 may run the same drum for years, while a busy office printer will reach the end of the drum's life much sooner.

Our toner cartridge is still fairly new. Do we change the drum anyway?

If the print defects point to the drum, yes. Because the two parts live independent lives, a young toner cartridge is no protection against an old drum — the lines, spots and background haze will keep appearing no matter how fresh the toner is. The good news is the swap does not waste the toner: you take the existing toner cartridge out of the old drum, seat it in the new 310-8710, and keep printing with the toner you already paid for.

Which printers does this drum unit fit?

This drum is made for the Dell Laser 1720. If your machine is the 1720, the 310-8710 is the drum number to order — matching the part number matters more than matching a printer nickname, because Dell used different drums across its mono laser lines. Check the number printed on your current drum unit if you are unsure; it should read 310-8710.

What protection comes with this compatible drum?

This is a compatible Clever Supplies drum unit, and it is covered by a 1-year warranty plus 1-year free returns — a full year to send it back if it does not perform. The full terms are on our Shipping & Returns page. Orders ship from whichever of our warehouses in IL, PA, GA or CA gets it to you fastest, and support is available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST.

About This Drum Unit

The Dell 310-8710 drum unit is the imaging heart of the Laser 1720: toner supplies the powder, but the drum decides how cleanly every page comes out. This compatible unit is rated for up to 30,000 pages at $60.21, and it is the fix for the classic end-of-drum symptoms — repeating spots, streaks, gray backgrounds and fading that a new toner cartridge cannot cure. It is backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns. For more Dell supplies, see the Dell range.