Frequently Asked Questions
Our prints have started showing repeating marks and streaks, but the toner cartridge is fairly new. Could this drum unit be the fix?
Very possibly, yes. The 330-2663 (PK496) is the drum unit, a separate part from the toner cartridge: the toner supplies the powder, but the drum is the surface that actually transfers the image to the page. When a drum wears out, the classic symptoms are marks that repeat at regular intervals down the page, vertical streaks, gray background shading, and spots that come back in the same position print after print. If you have already swapped the toner and the pattern did not change, the drum is the next suspect — and replacing it is usually what clears those defects.
How long does one 330-2663 drum unit last?
It is rated at up to 30,000 pages. In practical terms, one drum typically outlasts several toner cartridges, because it is a wear part on a much longer cycle than the toner supply. Actual life depends on your page coverage and paper, but if you think in terms of toner changes, expect to replace the drum only occasionally rather than at every toner swap.
Which printers use the 330-2663 (PK496)?
This drum unit fits the Dell Laser 2230d, 2330d, 2330dn, 2350d, 2350dn and 3330dn, plus the Dell Multi-Function 3333dn. It is listed under two numbers — 330-2663 and PK496 — which are the same drum unit, so either number on your old unit or in your records points to this part.
Is this a genuine Dell drum unit?
No — this is a compatible replacement drum unit built to match the Dell 330-2663 (PK496) specification, not a Dell-branded original. That is where the price difference comes from: a single unit is $53.52, which works out to roughly 0.18 cents per page across its 30,000-page rated life. It is covered like our other compatible supplies, with the warranty and returns terms described below.
Do I replace the drum and the toner at the same time?
Not necessarily. They are independent parts with independent lives. Replace the toner when pages start fading evenly or the printer reports low toner; replace the drum when you see repeating defects, streaks or background shading that a toner swap does not cure. Changing both at once when only one is worn just spends money early.
What coverage do I get, and how fast does it ship?
This drum unit carries a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns under our shipping & returns policy. Orders ship from our warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA, so most addresses are only a few transit days away. Support is available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST, and you can browse the rest of the range on our Dell supplies page.
About This Dell 330-2663 (PK496) Drum Unit
This compatible Dell 330-2663 (PK496) drum unit is the imaging component for the Laser 2230d, 2330d, 2330dn, 2350d, 2350dn, 3330dn and Multi-Function 3333dn, rated at up to 30,000 pages per unit. At $53.52 it is the part to reach for when print quality problems — repeating marks, streaks, spots and gray shading — survive a toner change, because those defects live on the drum surface, not in the toner supply. It is backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns, and ships from our IL, PA, GA and CA warehouses.
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