SKU:

Dell-331-0778

Printer Brand:

Dell

OEM Number:

331-0778

Ink Color:

High Yield Black

Page Yield:

2,000 Pages

Printer Type:

Laser Cartridge

Condition:

New Compatible

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "high yield" mean on a cartridge rated at 2,000 pages?

It means this is the larger-fill black cartridge for Dell's compact 1250-series color lasers. The 331-0778 is the high-yield black unit for machines such as the Color Laser 1250c, 1350cnw, 1355cn and 1355cnw, the 1755nf and 1755nfw, and the C1760nw and C1765nf — rated at up to 2,000 pages where the standard-fill black for this class runs out sooner. "High yield" is a comparison within this small-printer family, not a promise of departmental-printer stamina: 2,000 pages is what the black slot of a compact color laser holds at the top of its range.

What does one printed page cost with this cartridge?

The arithmetic is $25.98 divided by 2,000 rated pages, which lands at about 1.30 cents of black toner per page. We will not dress that up: it is the most expensive way to buy this cartridge, because a single unit carries none of the multi-pack pricing this family is known for. What the $25.98 buys is one correct high-yield black cartridge, bought on its own, with no cash parked in spares you may not need yet.

How long does 2,000 pages last in a small office?

The 1250-series machines live on desks and counters, not in print rooms. At roughly 150 black pages a month — invoices, letters, shipping labels — one 331-0778 covers well over a year; at 400 pages a month it still stretches to about five months. The 2,000-page figure assumes standard 5% page coverage, so everyday documents track close to it while dense, graphics-heavy pages pull the real total down. Your printer's page counter tells you exactly where you stand.

Why buy a single cartridge when the packs are so much cheaper per unit?

Sometimes one is the rational order. If the printer is a backup machine, if the office is winding down its use of it, or if you simply want to confirm this compatible cartridge performs in your 1250c before committing to a stock of them, a single $25.98 unit is the low-risk way to find out. The pack savings are real, but they only save money on cartridges you will actually use.

Is this a genuine Dell cartridge?

No. This is a compatible 331-0778, built by a third party to the specification of Dell's high-yield black cartridge for the 1250 family. The price, the 2,000-page rating and every figure on this page describe this compatible unit. The difference between $25.98 and the genuine article's price is the entire reason compatible cartridges exist.

What happens if the cartridge disappoints?

Every unit is backed by a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns, so a cartridge that fades early, streaks or fails outright comes back to us rather than becoming your loss. The full terms are on our shipping & returns page, help is available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST, and orders leave from our warehouses in IL, PA, GA or CA — whichever is closest to you.

How do we know it is the black cartridge fading and not one of the colors?

Look at what has gone wrong. The 331-0778 prints your text, so a fading black shows up as gray, washed-out lettering while color graphics on the same page still look right. A failing color cartridge does the opposite — it bends hues while text stays crisp. If documents read pale but charts keep their color, the black slot is the one to check against the printer's gauge before ordering anything.

Can we verify the 2,000-page rating on our own machine?

Yes, with the page counter. Note the reading when the 331-0778 goes in and again when it comes out; the difference is your machine's real yield. Desk printers in this family printing everyday documents at standard coverage usually land close to the rating, while dense, graphics-heavy pages pull the figure down — either way, one measured cartridge gives you the number your reorder timing should actually follow.

How should a spare 331-0778 be kept in a small office?

It asks for very little: one small box, kept sealed and flat in a drawer or cupboard, away from heat and window light. That modest footprint is part of this cartridge's appeal for the 1250-series machines — the spare for a desk printer fits in the desk. Stored that way it waits indefinitely for the day the fitted cartridge fades, and the swap happens in the same minute the problem is noticed.

Our text has just started to lighten — is there a stopgap before we fit the spare?

Yes. Remove the 331-0778 and rock it gently from side to side a few times to redistribute the toner still inside, then refit it. Output often firms up for a while, which is useful if a job has to finish today. Read the recovery honestly, though: a cartridge that needs rocking is a cartridge at its end, so the spare should move from the drawer to the printer soon rather than after a second fade.

About This Dell 331-0778 Toner Cartridge

A single compatible high-yield black toner cartridge — Dell part number 331-0778 — rated at up to 2,000 pages and priced at $25.98, about 1.30 cents per rated page. It is the black cartridge for Dell's 1250-series color lasers, including the 1250c, 1350cnw, 1355cn, 1355cnw, 1755nf, 1755nfw, C1760nw and C1765nf. It ships from IL, PA, GA or CA and carries a 1-year warranty with 1-year free returns. The full range for these machines is on our Dell page.