Aficio MPC501SP
Speed is the headline on the Ricoh Aficio MPC501SP: a 50 ppm A4 color MFP with print, copy and scan as standard and fax available as an option. Its four cartridges are sized to keep pace — 842243 black rated for up to 14,000 pages, with 842244 cyan, 842245 magenta and 842246 yellow at up to 12,000 pages apiece.
The balance between those numbers is the real story for demanding workgroups. On most color machines the colors expire long before the black; here a 12,000-page color rating sits close behind the black's 14,000, so a color-heavy workload does not translate into constant color swaps interrupting the queue. It is a machine built to produce brilliant color at a pace that rivals monochrome devices, and its supply ratings are cut to match.
Toner Cartridges for Aficio MPC501SP
| Cartridge | Color | Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| 842243 | Black | Up to 14,000 pages |
| 842243 (2 Pack) | Black | Up to 14,000 pages each |
| 842244 | Cyan | Up to 12,000 pages |
| 842245 | Magenta | Up to 12,000 pages |
| 842246 | Yellow | Up to 12,000 pages |
| 842243, 842244, 842245, 842246 (4 Color Set) | Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow | See individual cartridges |
Which cartridge should you buy?
Plan around the near-even yields. Black still leads — it feeds every monochrome page as well as the black component of color work — so the 842243 2-pack suits the workgroup that prints without pause. Colors at 12,000 pages each hold up far longer than color cartridges usually do, which makes single-color replacement the exception rather than the routine; when one does run out, change that position only. The 4-color set is the tidy choice for a full engine refresh, when levels across all four positions have drifted low together and one planned swap beats four interruptions. However you buy, the ratings here reward a small stock of spares: at 50 ppm, a busy week moves fast.
Chip, toner and everyday use
These are high-capacity cartridges with chips that report each color's level to the panel, so a workgroup can see a shortage coming days in advance. Insert each cartridge straight, following the color label inside the cover — at this capacity a cartridge seated in the wrong position wastes real money. Yield ratings assume about 5% coverage; presentation graphics and full-page color backgrounds draw far more per page and will shorten intervals accordingly. Keep the next set sealed in a cool spot near the machine, and rotate stock so the oldest box is used first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which toner set does the Aficio MPC501SP take?
Four cartridges: 842243 black, 842244 cyan, 842245 magenta and 842246 yellow. Each color is its own cartridge in its own position.
Is fax built into this model?
Fax is available as an option on the MPC501SP; print, copy and scan are the standard functions.
How do the color yields compare with the black?
Unusually closely. Each color is rated for up to 12,000 pages against up to 14,000 for the black, so colors do not need replacing nearly as often as black on this machine.
Can I buy the four cartridges together?
Yes — the 4-color set combines one of each cartridge, and the black is additionally offered in a 2-pack.