Review: Inside The CC641WN HP 60 XL – 60XL Black Ink Cartridge (Cracked Open)

The HP 60XL Black Ink Cartridge – A “Full” Cartridge.

There are two (2) versions of the HP 60 black inkjet print cartridge.  The only difference in the two is the amount of ink they each contain, that is it  – the HP 60 black is rated at 200 pages, and the The HP 60XL is rated at 600 pages.  But which one is a better value?  Depends on how much you print. Take a look inside the HP 60, look here.

Contains hefty amount of ink:

The HP 60XL black inkjet print cartridge boasts a whopping 600 printed pages estimate.  These estimates are almost always overly exaggerated.  This cartridge is also easily refilled with kits from $12.99, or compatibles (professionally refilled) can be purchased around $20-$25.  The HP original cartridge (with pigment ink) will run around $35.00 plus.  A good cartridge, and owners of printers that can use it – should.

Removing the top of the HP 60XL ink cartridge reveals the inside of the cartridge. No refill deterrent ink chambers here, this is a "full" cartridge with a complete sponge.

Specifications:

Color: Black
Part Number: (CC641WN) – HP 60XL
Ink Type: Pigment based ink
Page Yield: 600 pages*

Ink Drop Size: 13.8pl

Retail price: $34.99
Street price: $29.99

* that 600 page estimate is from HP and based on 5% coverage (see what 5% coverage really looks like) – needless to say, manufacturer estimates are on the “high side.”

This cartridge is often paired with the HP 60, and 60XL tri-color inkjet print (color) cartridge which we cracked open here.

The sponge fills the entire HP 60XL, 60 XL ink cartridge.

Cartridge Contacts

These solder points, or contacts help make up the print head.  Printers that use these types of cartridges do not have an internal print head – rather the print head is located on the cartridges themselves.  If print quality declines to the point where the cartridge is no longer usable, simply try another cartridge (it’s like getting a new printer).  If your cartridge cannot be recognized, give the contacts a quick clean with a damp cloth, or other device and try again.  If the contacts are harmed, the cartridge may not function at all.

Contacts on the cartridge - the print head is on the physical cartridge in this design.

The Print Head:

Unlike Epson, which makes the printhead part of the printer, Hewlett Packard (HP) puts the print head technology on the physical cartridge (for 80% of their consumer printers).  This means every time you buy a new cartridge, it’s like getting a new print head.  This is why these type of HP printers (that use this cartridge style) last forever in our opinion.  As long as the mechanics of the printer keep working it will last forever since the print head can simply be repalced by installing a new cartridge into the printer.  Not all HP printers and cartridges use this style (print head on the cartridge) of build, but a large majority of the ones you will find at Wal-Mart, Target, and other discount retailers use these cartridges.

Notice the 2D UPC code on the print head ribbon. They are actually in three places on the cartridge – the top label, the print head, and on the front facing side (expiration).

Printhead of the HP 60XL, 60 XL ink cartridge.

For Refillers:

Refilling is easy if you know where to fill.  There are five (5) holes in the cartridge lid.  As you can see from the other images, there is black ink around all five (5) of the holes. We suggest using the top most hole since it is closer to where the ink will exit the cartridge. Refill kits can be a hassle, but are worth it if you are on a tight budget and have patience.  There is no need to drill into this cartridge to refill – the holes are already there.

No need to drill any holes, they are already there.

Refill this cartridge in any of the five (5) holes under the identification sticker.

Is this an embedded expiration date?

Yet another 2D UPC code on the outside front of the cartridge.  So that is 3 total on a single cartridge.  If (HP) Hewlett Packard went to the trouble of putting them on there, you can bet they are there for a reason.  HP claims there is no built-in “self-destruct” expiration date for their cartridges.  Read more about it here…

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01764161&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

Expiration date on the HP 60XL black inkjet print cartridge?

HP 60 And HP 60XL Compared:

There really is no comparison.  The HP 60 cartridge (on the left), or the “value” cartridge as HP refers to it has two things wrong with it.  First, the sponge is one-sixth the size as the 60XL, and it is contained in a plastic divide to deter refillers.  Second, you can refill it, but look at what little ink the mini-sponge will take.  The HP 60 cartridge will require constant attention to maintain it’s “full” status.

The HP 60 retails for $14.99, and the HP 60XL retails for around $33.99.  If you print more than 50 pages per month, do yourself a favor and stick with the XL cartridges – they have more ink and are more re-fillable.

The HP 60 cartridge on the left is no value, that is for sure. The sponge is one-sixth the size as the larger HP 60XL inkjet print cartridge.

Hewlett Packard HP 60 (60XL) Series Ink Cartridges Work In The Following HP Inkjet Printers
Deskjet Series		Photosmart Series
DeskJet D1660 Deskjet D2500 Deskjet D2530 Deskjet D2560 Deskjet D2660 Deskjet F42 Deskjet F4200 Deskjet F4210 Deskjet F4230 Deskjet F4235 Deskjet F4240	Deskjet F4250 Deskjet F4272 Deskjet F4273 Deskjet F4274 Deskjet F4275 Deskjet F4280 DeskJet F4283 Deskjet F4288 Deskjet F4292 Deskjet F4293 DeskJet F4480	PhotoSmart C4640 PhotoSmart C4650 PhotoSmart C4680 PhotoSmart C4740 PhotoSmart C4750 PhotoSmart C4780 PhotoSmart C4795

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60XL ink cartridge page estimates:

http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/en-019/searchResults.html?cCode=us,st=cartridge,ss=60

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60XL ink cartridge specifications:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06c/A10-12771-64199-69422-69422-3564563-3564739-3564756.html

Hewlett Packard HP 60XL Inkjet Print Cartridge Pricing:

HP 60, 60XL, XL ink cartridges.

Review: Inside The HP 60 Tri-Color (Color) CC643W Ink Cartridge (Cracked Open)

A look inside the Hewlett Packard HP 60 CC643W tri-color (color) ink cartridge.

There is not much good about this cartridge. HP uses words like “value” and “standard” to describe their HP 60 series inkjet cartridges, but the real value is in getting rid of any printer that uses these rip-off cartridges. There are both a black and tri-color (color) cartridge available, however there are two different versions of each of those cartridges, the “standard” or half-full 60 series, and the “full” XL series.

This cartridge is the HP 60 tri-color (color) ink cartridge “standard” – half-full is more like it.  Not very environmentally friendly to design air-space into an ink cartridge.

Cover Removed:

Removal of the cover reveals a half-empty ink cartridge.  We are guessing the XL version of the cartridge is completely full?  The sponges are not entirely soaked (about half soaked), and the colors are divided into chambers within the cartridge.

Specifications:

• Color: Tri-Color (all three (3) colors in the same cartridge)
• Part Number: cc643w – HP 60
• Ink Type: Dye based ink
• Page Yield: 165 pages*
• Storage temp: 59 to 90° F
• Retail price: $19.99
• Street price: $16.39

* that 165 page estimate is from HP and based on 5% coverage (see what 5% coverage really looks like) – needless to say, manufacturer estimates are on the “high side.”

Often paired with the HP black ink cartridge – we blow the lid off this un-refillable? ink cartridge here.

For Refillers:

The HP 60 can be refilled just like any other cartridge, however it will need refilling more often do to the smaller ink content levels.  Even if you fill the cartridge completely full of ink the electronics on the cartridge doom it to “standard” yield output.  There are three colors in this cartridge – cyan (blue), magenta (red), and yellow.  Be careful where you drill baby drill – here is a layout:

Contact! – Contact!

These solder points, or contacts help make up the print head.  Printers that use these types of cartridges do not have an internal print head – rather the print head is located on the cartridges themselves.  If print quality declines to the point where the cartridge is no longer usable, simply try another cartridge (it’s like getting a new printer).  If your cartridge cannot be recognized, give the contacts a quick clean with a damp cloth, or other device and try again.  If the contacts are harmed, the cartridge may not function at all.

The HP 60 tri-color (color) print head:

For printers that use this type of cartridge, the print head is physically on the cartridge (see below) – conversely, Epson printers have the print head located inside the printer, and Epson cartridges are merely ink storage devices.  These HP cartridges (HP 60, HP 92, HP 93, HP 75, HP 74, etc…) have print head electronics on the outside of the cartridge – more to damage during refilling or re-manufacturing.

Notice the 2D UPC code on the print head ribbon.

Hewlett Packard HP 60 (60XL) series ink cartridges work in the following inkjet printers
Deskjet Series		Photosmart Series
DeskJet D1660 Deskjet D2500 Deskjet D2530 Deskjet D2560 Deskjet D2660 Deskjet F42 Deskjet F4200 Deskjet F4210 Deskjet F4230 Deskjet F4235 Deskjet F4240	Deskjet F4250 Deskjet F4272 Deskjet F4273 Deskjet F4274 Deskjet F4275 Deskjet F4280 DeskJet F4283 Deskjet F4288 Deskjet F4292 Deskjet F4293 DeskJet F4480	PhotoSmart C4640 PhotoSmart C4650 PhotoSmart C4680 PhotoSmart C4740 PhotoSmart C4750 PhotoSmart C4780 PhotoSmart C4795

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60 ink cartridge page estimates:

http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/us/en/DJD2500/index.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60 ink cartridge specifications:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF17a/A10-12771-64199-69422-69422-3564563.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Hewlett Packard HP 60:

HP 60, 60XL, XL ink cartridges.

Review: Inside The HP 60 Black CC640WN Ink Cartridge (Cracked Open)

A look inside the Hewlett Packard (HP) 60 black ink cartridge – CC640W

Look here for a peek inside the HP 60XL black inkjet print cartridge.

There is not much good about this cartridge.  HP uses words like “value” and “standard” to describe their HP 60 series inkjet cartridges, but the real value is in getting rid of any printer that use these cartridges.  These black and color cartridges are an insult.  There are two different versions of each cartridge, the “standard” or half-full 60 series, and the “full” HP 60 XL series.  The cartridge we have opened here is the HP 60 standard cartridge.

Removing the cover reveals “sponge island”

Apparently HP felt the need to build in an ink containment section inside the HP 60 ink cartridge.  The sponge inside the cartridge is about the size of two sugar-cubes stacked on top of each other.  This cartridge is not even half full of ink!  Up to 80% of this cartridge is air-space.

Inside the HP 60 black ink cartridge:

Looks like “sponge island” inside the cartridge.  The HP 60 ink cartridge could take a bunch more ink, however Hewlett Packard (HP) has designed this cartridge to start out about 80% empty – there is no (easy) way to tell the amount of ink in the sponge.  At $15.00 retail for this cartridge, heavy printing can get expensive very quickly.

Paying $10.00 to refill this cartridge? Think again. A very small area to refill. This cartridge will only accept about 5ml of ink.

Specifications:

• Color: Black
• Part Number: CC640WN, HP 60
• Ink Type: Dye based ink
• Page Yield: 200 pages*
• Storage temp: 59 to 90° F
• Retail price: $14.99
• Street price: $14.53

* that 200 page estimate is from HP and based on 5% coverage (see what 5% coverage really looks like) – needless to say, manufacturer estimates are on the “high side.”

This cartridge is often paired with the HP 60 tri-color (color) cartridge which we cracked open here.

For Refillers:

Refilling is easy if you know where to drill.  There are five (5) holes in the cartridge lid, however only one goes into the sponge and ink containment section.  This cartridge is crazy.

The print head:

Unlike Epson, which makes the printhead part of the printer, Hewlett Packard (HP) puts the print head technology on the cartridge (for most of their consumer printers).  This means every time you buy a new cartridge, it’s like getting a new printer.  This is why these type of HP printers (that use this cartridge style) last forever in our opinion.  As long as the mechanics of the printer keep working it will last forever since the print head can simply be repalced by installing a new cartridge into the printer.  Not all HP printers and cartridges use this style (print head on the cartridge) of build, but a large majority of the ones you will find at Wal-Mart, Target, and other discount retailers use these cartridges.

Notice the 2D UPC code on the print head ribbon.

The HP 60, 60XL, XL cartridges will work with the following Deskjet and Photosmart inkjet printers.

Hewlett Packard HP 60 (60XL) Series Ink Cartridges Work In The Following HP Inkjet Printers
Deskjet Series		Photosmart Series
DeskJet D1660 Deskjet D2500 Deskjet D2530 Deskjet D2560 Deskjet D2660 Deskjet F42 Deskjet F4200 Deskjet F4210 Deskjet F4230 Deskjet F4235 Deskjet F4240	Deskjet F4250 Deskjet F4272 Deskjet F4273 Deskjet F4274 Deskjet F4275 Deskjet F4280 DeskJet F4283 Deskjet F4288 Deskjet F4292 Deskjet F4293 DeskJet F4480	PhotoSmart C4640 PhotoSmart C4650 PhotoSmart C4680 PhotoSmart C4740 PhotoSmart C4750 PhotoSmart C4780 PhotoSmart C4795

Compared to the HP 60XL Black Inkjet Print Cartridge:

The HP 60 cartridge compared to the HP 60XL black inkjet print cartridge.

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60 ink cartridge page estimates:

http://h10060.www1.hp.com/pageyield/us/en/DJD2500/index.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Hewlett Packard (HP) 60 ink cartridge specifications:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF17a/A10-12771-64199-69422-69422-3564563.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Hewlett Packard HP 60 Pricing:

HP 60, 60XL, XL ink cartridges.

Cartridges: The HP Hewlett Packard 60 and 60XL Ink Cartridges

Cartridge Carousel Continues For HP Customers.

So how much ink is in an HP 60 series ink cartridge?  The numbers might surprise you.

Take a look inside the cartridges –

We cracked this cartridge open to have a look – the HP 60 black is 80% empty.  The color cartridges is about half-full.

Yet another cartridge from Hewlett Packard.  The HP 60 inkjet printer cartridge comes in two flavors.  There is the HP 60 half-full  black and tri-color (tri because all the colors are contained in one cartridge) cartridges which do not cost a bunch, however they contain very little actual ink.  The black cartridge contains a mere 5ml of ink, while the color cartridge contains 7ml of ink.  That is over $11,000 per gallon!

The other option is the high priced HP 60XL series of ink cartridges.  They are the exact same physical size and shape as the 60 series, but these cartridges contain a full serving of ink.   There is approximately 15ml of ink in the HP 60XL black, and 21ml (7ml each color) in the tri-color cartridge.

Standard capacity 60 cartridges:

• HP 60 – CC640WN – Black ($14.99) – 5ml – 200 pages*
• HP 60 – CC643WN – Color ($18.99) – 9ml – 165 pages *

*HP page estimates

A more realistic expectation on number of prints for these cartridges would be in the 60-80 range.  The black ink cartridge only has 5ml of ink in the cartridge (color has 9ml – 3ml each color).  That is $11,000 per gallon for this ink.  A set of two cartridges will run you $28.66 minimum.

Large capacity 60 XL cartridges:

• HP 60XL – CC641WN – Black ($32.68) – 15ml – 600 pages*
• HP 60XL – CC644WN – Color ($37.51) – 21ml – 440 pages*

*HP page estimates

The HP 60XL series contain 15ml ink black, and 21ml color – a much better deal over the smaller 60 series.  Real world use demands that you cut that page estimate number by 40% easy.  A set of these cartridges (all the way full of ink) will run you $70.91?!

Avoid these printers – there are better options.  You can get a CI equipped printer starting at $90.00.  Stop playing the cartridge game!  If you already have one, and are determined to keep it, compatible cartridges are available – but it can be hard to find quality compatibles .

Compatible printers:

Deskjet series:

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Deskjet D1660 Deskjet D1663 Deskjet D2530 Deskjet D2545 Deskjet D2560 Deskjet D2563 Deskjet D2566 Deskjet D2568 Deskjet D2645 Deskjet D2660 Deskjet D2663 Deskjet D2680 Deskjet F2420 Deskjet F2423

Deskjet F2430 Deskjet F2480 Deskjet F2483 Deskjet F2488 Deskjet F2492 Deskjet F2493 Deskjet F4210 Deskjet F4213 Deskjet F4230 Deskjet F4235 Deskjet F4240 Deskjet F4250 Deskjet F4272

Deskjet F4273 Deskjet F4274 Deskjet F4275 Deskjet F4280 Deskjet F4283 Deskjet F4288 Deskjet F4292 Deskjet F4293 Deskjet F4400 Deskjet F4435 Deskjet F4440 Deskjet F4450 Deskjet F4480

PhotoSmart Series:

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PhotoSmart C4600 PhotoSmart C4610 PhotoSmart C4635 PhotoSmart C4640 PhotoSmart C4650 PhotoSmart C4680

PhotoSmart C4683 PhotoSmart C4685 PhotoSmart C4690 PhotoSmart C4700 PhotoSmart C4740 PhotoSmart C4750

PhotoSmart C4780 PhotoSmart C4783 PhotoSmart C4795 PhotoSmart C4799 PhotoSmart F2400

No suckers here:

Why buy a printer that uses low capacity cartridges.  Full cartridges will cost $70.00 per set, and that is only good for about 350-400 pages (if that).  Dump this lemon.  and avoid these printers.

Check out our review of these cartridges here –

HP 60 Black ink cartridge – cracked open.

HP 60 Tri-Color (color) ink cartridge – cracked open.