Originally Posted by
Simmo
The drum needs to be replaced at 100,000 pages (or if it gets scratched or damaged prior). After market cartridges are cheap around $20 - $40 each.. OEM cartridges are well over $100. From memory, drum units are around $250 dollars.
If you get a bad aftermarket cartridge it will ruin the fuser and/or the transfer rollers and you will get toner buildup that bakes on them (you see smudging and toner doesn't fuse on those spots). I wouldn't recommend duplex printing with aftermarket cartridges (from plenty of examples i have seen).