Samsung ML1710 is a personal (600 dpi, USB1.1) Laser Printer. With 1000 sheet rated starter catridge (toner+drum), the printer could be regarded as a disposable printer that is sold around $60-$80 after $100 mail-in rebate. Well, at 16ppm rated, this is a pretty decent printer at the price. However those things doesn't make this printer ever close to being interesting.
The spec. says that it has a 66 MHz processor and 8Mbytes standard memory. So as soon as I bought one for $60 after rebate ($159 at store + 8.25% tax - $100 MIR makes it as $73 net cost), I take it apart and had a look. (the printer didn't print any page yet) I found
1. a processor (the only big chip on the controller board) that says "ARM" TRIP011-10TC (1/I/l, O/0 might be used interchangeably)
2. EMST M12L63164A : 16x4M (64Mbit) SDRAM (54pin TSSOP II)
3. A flash memory chip that has a paper tag that says the version number of the driver software.
4. a 4-pin connector and a site for another identical looking 4 pin connector.
The board has two crystal oscillators. A 14.7MHz crystal has a CY25314-SC (spread spectrum clock generator, I assume) right next to it and a 10.0MHz crystal has a SF78185.
The fact that makes this printer interesting are two folds.
1. it has a upper model called ML1750 that shares most of the characteristics with ML1710 including shared toner catridge, printing speed, and appearance. However, ML1750 is rated as 166MHz. Any way to overclock ML1710 ? 1750 is 1200x600 dpi. 1710 is 600x600dpi. Any way to make 1710 1200x600 dpi ? or even 1200x1200 dpi ?
2. the configuration of the controller board suggests that it has a certain embedded Operating system. By collecting information on the printer, we may be able to replace the driver program in flash with a new driver.
BTW the printer does not have an LCD screen. It just has a one switch (yes just one.. well two including power switch) and two LEDs.
