Which wired color printer provides duplex for a workgroup?

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

CS317dn / 28CC050

Main functions

Color print only

Print output

Up to 25 ppm Letter mono and color

Two-sided printing

Automatic duplex; Ethernet and USB

A wired color printer with a specific workgroup role

Lexmark identifies the CS317dn as a color laser printer with printing as its function. It does not include a copier, scanner or fax in the reviewed product definition, so a team that handles paper intake will need a separate device. For an office sending color files from computers, the focused design can be appropriate. The exact model includes part number 28CC050, which should be checked because similar CS-series suffixes and bundles can differ in port or accessory configuration. Keep the purchase decision tied to this exact dn unit.

Rated speeds are equal for mono and color

Lexmark rates the CS317dn at up to 25 pages per minute on Letter paper for both black and color jobs. That gives a small team an understandable comparison point for mixed office printing. It is not a guarantee that every color graphic, network path or first page will arrive at the same rate; the rating is a manufacturer specification. If color output makes up most of the queue, compare this model against printers whose exact color speed is stated rather than relying on a faster mono-only number from a different series.

Automatic duplex and paper feed support routine reports

Lexmark lists integrated automatic duplex as standard. It can handle supported two-sided jobs without asking staff to turn each stack by hand, which is helpful for reports, drafts and internal packets. The CS317dn uses a 250-sheet main tray plus a one-sheet feed, and its output capacity is 125 sheets. That is a modest office supply rather than an expandable department stack. Match paper types and sizes to Lexmark's media instructions, and remember that duplex printing does not add scanning or document-feeder capabilities.

Ethernet is built in and Wi-Fi is an option

The official page documents Ethernet and USB 2.0 as standard connections. Lexmark also lists optional wireless support, which should not be mistaken for a radio in every printer sold under this model name. The matching information therefore treats built-in Wi-Fi as absent. A wired workgroup can connect by Ethernet, and one computer can connect by USB. For wireless-only placement, either confirm that the correct compatible accessory is included or choose a model with standard Wi-Fi on its exact specifications.

Published monthly guidance makes volume easier to assess

Lexmark gives the CS317dn a recommended monthly volume range of 500 to 5,000 pages. This is more useful for routine workload screening than a maximum duty-cycle figure, which is not substituted for the manufacturer's recommendation. The exact recommendation can be compared to an office's expected output, but it does not promise that a specific unit or cartridge can sustain a particular real-world result. If pages fluctuate, use the range as selection guidance rather than an exact operating quota, then account for color mix and local supply needs separately.

Confirm configuration and seller condition

The Amazon link searches the exact CS317dn and part number with the affiliate tag because the historical candidate ASIN is not verified as a current exact listing. Before purchase, check the product label, Ethernet port, any optional wireless card, included cartridges and return terms. No unit was handled for this review, so the guide does not claim to have tested print quality or counted page yield. Manufacturer specifications describe the original model; the condition and included options of a particular listing remain separate facts for the seller to confirm.

How the alternatives change the decision

The HP Color LaserJet 3800dn and Samsung CLP-620ND are other wired color duplex printers with unknown recommended workloads. The Lexmark's 500–5,000 page range is a differentiator.

Before you decide

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

Q5983A / 3800dn

Main functions

Color print only

Print output

Up to 22 ppm Letter

Two-sided printing

Automatic duplex; Ethernet and USB

A print-only color model for a shared queue

HP identifies the Color LaserJet 3800dn as a printer rather than an all-in-one. That distinction is useful for a team that only needs color pages: it avoids treating a printer family as if every member also copies or scans. A forms desk that receives paper originals still needs a separate scanner or multifunction device. The selection question is therefore simple: if color output is the job and document capture is not, this model's function set can be enough. The 3800dn suffix must remain attached to the choice because neighboring 3800 variants have different standard configurations.

Automatic duplex is part of the dn configuration

HP's user guide identifies automatic two-sided printing for the 3800dn. This matters for recurring reports, policy packets and school or office handouts because the machine turns supported sheets without asking someone to re-feed each page. The convenience is different from a driver-assisted manual duplex path, where the person manages the stack. Buyers should still match paper size and media to HP's supported settings. The main point for comparing this product is not a vague claim that the family can duplex: the evidence is tied to this exact dn configuration.

Speed and connections point to wired work

HP rates this model at up to 22 pages per minute on Letter paper. It documents USB 2.0 for a direct connection and Jetdirect 10/100 Ethernet for a wired network. That combination can suit a shared location where a cable run is available, but no built-in Wi-Fi is listed in the reviewed specification. The speed is a manufacturer rating, not a guarantee for every complex color file or print path. If wireless access is a hard requirement, compare a model whose exact specifications state Wi-Fi rather than assuming an older network card can add it.

Do not turn maximum capacity into a workload recommendation

The saved HP specifications do not provide a recommended monthly page range for the exact 3800dn. Without that guidance, a shopper can compare its rated speed and paper path, but cannot use this evidence to say it is recommended for a particular number of monthly pages. A duty-cycle ceiling, if found elsewhere, would answer a different question and is not substituted here. For a high-volume department, look for an explicit recommendation or expected-workload guide from the manufacturer, then weigh that evidence with service and consumable needs.

Check lifecycle and seller details separately

The model comes from an older product family, and the candidate source described a renewed printer. Those clues do not establish the condition of an individual unit, what supplies are included, or whether a seller currently has stock. The cited historical ASIN does not have sufficient exact-model proof for a direct purchase link, so this guide uses a tagged search for 3800dn and Q5983A. Before buying a used machine, ask for a clear model label, a printed sample, included cartridge details and return terms. That seller-level check is separate from HP's stable technical specifications.

When its trade-offs make sense

The 3800dn is a candidate when color output, Ethernet sharing and automatic duplex are required together, and print-only operation is acceptable. A current color printer with Wi-Fi may be easier to place where network cabling is absent; a color MFP is the better route when staff must copy or scan originals. HP's source set leaves monthly recommendation unknown, so workload should be matched through other reliable evidence before committing. The model is most defensible as a targeted wired-office option after confirming that its exact variant, consumables and unit condition suit the planned job.

How the alternatives change the decision

The Samsung CLP-620ND and Lexmark CS317dn are other wired color duplex print-only candidates in this batch. A buyer needing copy, scan or fax should compare a documented color MFP instead.

Before you decide

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

CLP-550N

Main functions

Color print only

Print output

Up to 21 ppm mono / 5 ppm color Letter

Two-sided printing

Standard duplex; Ethernet and USB

An older color printer with a narrow job description

Samsung's material identifies the CLP-550N as a color laser printer, not an MFP. It can produce color and monochrome pages, but the saved sources do not list copy, scan or fax features. That points to a focused role for a wired office desk where documents are already created on computers. If an employee receives paper forms and must digitize them, another scanner is required. The source model suffix matters because it distinguishes the networked N configuration from related CLP-550 versions; features from another suffix should not be transferred without checking its own specification.

Rated color speed is far below monochrome speed

The reviewed Samsung specification gives up to 21 pages per minute in monochrome and 5 pages per minute in color on Letter paper. Those separate ratings are useful for matching the device to a mostly text workload with occasional graphics. A team printing a large number of color charts may find that the slower color rating changes the practical queue time, even if black text is more frequent. These are manufacturer test rates, not promises for every file. Use the color rating itself when comparing with newer printers, rather than carrying over the faster monochrome number to color work.

Duplex is documented, but define the workflow

Samsung lists standard duplex printing on the CLP-550N. For supported paper, that allows the printer to make two-sided output without manual page turning. This is a useful feature for multi-page reports and internal handouts, although the saved source does not establish duplex scanning because this is a print-only model. The distinction keeps the recommendation grounded: it turns print sheets, not scanned originals. Buyers should still check the manual's media and paper-size guidance before expecting every stock or envelope job to run through the duplex path.

Ethernet is standard while Wi-Fi was optional

The model specification lists 10/100 Ethernet and USB 2.0, with a parallel port also available. Samsung described 802.11b as an optional wireless path, which is not evidence that every standard CLP-550N includes a Wi-Fi adapter. The matching profile therefore treats built-in wireless as absent. A wired office can connect it to a network, while a wireless-only home would need verified compatible optional hardware or another model. Before buying a used unit, inspect the ports and any installed card rather than assuming the letter N means a built-in radio.

Monthly capacity should stay unscored

The saved Samsung pages and specification excerpt do not provide a recommended monthly page range for this exact model. A product's maximum duty cycle or an average-volume line from a different source is not the same as the manufacturer's recommended workload. For the finder, both endpoints stay unknown. A small office can still weigh the known speed, input tray and wired port configuration against actual needs, but someone screening by a documented monthly range should select a better documented option. No workload number is inferred from age, toner yield or candidate-list sales history.

Confirm condition before committing to legacy hardware

The CLP-550N is an older model and the historical Amazon identifier does not establish a current matching offer or a specific unit's condition. This guide links to a tagged exact-model search. Ask a seller to show the full model label and installed network hardware, and to state which cartridges and paper accessories are included. A print sample can help evaluate an individual machine, but no unit has been handled or tested for this review. Also check local consumable fit and return terms before relying on a used printer for a shared office queue.

How the alternatives change the decision

The Samsung CLP-620ND and Lexmark CS317dn also offer wired color output with automatic duplex. Compare newer models if built-in wireless or faster color speed is important.

Before you decide

The advantages and the compromises

The key details

Model covered

CLP-620ND

Main functions

Color print only

Print output

Up to 20 ppm A4 mono and color

Two-sided printing

Automatic duplex; Ethernet and USB

A print-only model for color office pages

The Samsung specification identifies the CLP-620ND as a color laser printer with printing as its standard function. It does not provide copy, scan or fax capabilities in the saved feature list. That suits an office that sends documents from computers and has separate equipment for capturing paper originals. The ND suffix is part of the exact model identity; Samsung's related CLP-620N or regional CLP-620NDK configurations should not be casually substituted. Keep the exact name on any seller listing and check the model label before relying on the port and duplex details described here.

Equal rated speed across color and mono modes

Samsung rates the CLP-620ND at up to 20 pages per minute on A4 for both monochrome and color jobs. That gives the model a straightforward comparison point for an office that prints a mix of text and color material. It remains a manufacturer rating and does not promise the same time for every document, connection or warm-up state. A Letter-based buyer should compare the correct paper-size rating rather than assuming A4 and Letter results are interchangeable. Color and mono sharing the same rated figure is a useful fact, not a prediction for each actual queue.

Standard duplex and tray capacity reduce routine handling

The exact sheet lists built-in two-sided printing, a 250-sheet cassette and a 100-sheet multipurpose feeder. The main cassette handles ordinary paper, while a separate feed path can keep another supported stock available, subject to Samsung's media guidance. Automatic duplex is helpful for reports and internal documents where paper use matters. It does not mean the machine scans originals, since this model is print-only. Buyers should check the manual for media weights and tray limits, especially if they intend to use envelopes or specialty stock in the multipurpose path.

Wired interfaces, not confirmed wireless networking

Samsung lists USB 2.0 and Ethernet on the CLP-620ND. Those interfaces fit a direct workstation or a wired shared-printer location. No built-in Wi-Fi is listed in the Samsung-authored specification saved for this exact model, so the matching data does not credit wireless printing. Some regional variants may have different bundles; a product-family page is not enough to transfer a radio to this specific ND model. Check the rear ports and the full suffix on any used device before planning a wireless-only placement.

Average monthly volume is not a recommendation

The sheet reports average monthly volume of 3,000 pages. It does not label this figure as a manufacturer-recommended range, so it should not be treated as a suitability target or converted into both lower and upper finder endpoints. The recommendation field remains unknown. That distinction matters because average use, duty cycle and recommended workload answer different questions. A buyer with a formal monthly-volume requirement should locate explicit recommendation language from a source for the exact model or choose a product whose guidance is already documented. The known tray size and speed remain usable comparison facts.

Treat a used listing as a separate evaluation

This model is from an older Samsung range. The historical product identifier does not verify today's offer, the contents of a listing, or the state of the installed toner and imaging components. The guide uses an exact-model Amazon search with the required tag. Ask a seller to confirm the complete CLP-620ND label, included accessories, print quality, page count where available and return terms. This is a check for the particular unit, not an assertion that it has been tested. Also confirm local supply availability before assigning it a role in a shared office.

How the alternatives change the decision

The Lexmark CS317dn offers a documented 500–5,000 page recommendation. The HP 3800dn is another wired color duplex printer with its own configuration and lifecycle checks.

Before you decide