Quick Comparison of HID FARGO DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer & Laminator vs Entrust Sigma DS3 Direct to Card Printer at a Glance

The ID card printer comparison table provides a quick overview of the key specifications and features for HID FARGO DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer & Laminator and Entrust Sigma DS3 Direct to Card Printer Let’s take a look at the comparison table below.

Features	HID FARGO DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer & Laminator View Check the Price	Entrust Sigma DS3 Direct to Card Printer View Check the Price
Print Technology	Dye-Sublimation / Resin Thermal Transfer	Dye-Sublimation / Resin Thermal Transfer
Card Size Compatibility	CR-80	CR-79 CR-80
Card Thickness	30 mil – 40 mil (0.030” – 0.040”)	10 mil – 40 mil (0.25mm – 1.016mm)
Print Resolution	300 dpi	300 dpi (300 × 600, 300 × 1200)
Single/Dual-Sided Printing	Dual-sided Printing and Lamination (Standard)	Single- or dual-sided, rewritable technology
Print Speed	Up to 200 Cards/Hour (YMCK with Lamination)	Single-sided color: up to 250 cards/hour Double-sided color: up to 180 cards/hour
Encoding Options	Magnetic Stripe (ISO 7811) Smart Cards (MIFARE®, iCLASS®, DESFire®, Prox®)	Magnetic stripe Smart card (contact/contactless)
Connectivity	USB 2.0 Ethernet (Standard)	USB Ethernet
Media Capacity	200 Cards (Input) 100 Cards (Output)	Input hopper: 125 cards Output hopper: 25 cards
Laminate Options	Available (Clear & Holographic, Full or Half Panel)	Available
Software Compatibility	Compatible with InfoID powered by Infome Technologies FARGO Workbench™ printer maintenance and diagnostic software with Color Assist spot-color matching	Compatible with Infome’s InfoID Custom Card Printing Software Entrust Instant ID
Warranty & Support	Printer – 3 Years Printhead – 3 Years, Unlimited Passes (with UltraCard™)	3 Years of warranty with after-sales support from Infome

Key Features Comparison

Dual-Sided Printing & Lamination

Prints and laminates both sides of the card in a single pass for maximum security and durability.

High-Speed Output

Prints up to 200 cards/hour with dual-sided lamination, ideal for large-scale programs.

Low-Cost Consumables

Leverages high-capacity ribbons and laminates to reduce cost-per-card significantly.

Modular Smart Card Encoding

Add magnetic stripe, contact or contactless smart card encoding as needed.

GreenCircle® Certified Energy Efficient

Energy-saving sleep mode and rapid warm-up reduce power consumption.

Built-In USB & Ethernet Connectivity

Seamlessly connects to local or networked environments for centralized printing.

Fast Color and Monochrome Output

Delivers up to 200 full-color cards/hour or 1,200 monochrome cards/hour, ideal for bulk and on-demand printing.

Direct-to-Card (DTC) Printing Technology

Uses dye-sublimation and thermal transfer for vivid color, sharp text, and smooth gradient finishes.

Inline Lamination Options

Protect cards against wear, tampering, and UV exposure with optional lamination modules.

Encoding Flexibility

Supports magnetic stripe, contact chip, and contactless smart card encoding, enabling multi-application card issuance.

Robust Input/Output Handling

Large card hopper capacity and reliable feeders minimize interruptions in high-volume runs.

Centralized Printer Management

Compatible with Entrust Identity Control Center, enabling remote monitoring, analytics, and device management.

HID FARGO DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer & Laminator vs Entrust Sigma DS3 Direct to Card Printer : Which should I choose?

Choosing the right ID card printer is an important decision for any organisation, and comparing HID FARGO DTC5500LMX ID Card Printer & Laminator and Entrust Sigma DS3 Direct to Card Printer helps you understand which option matches your card printing requirements. These printers deliver high-quality printing, but they may differ in specifications such as print speed, print resolution, card capacity, connectivity options, and encoding features. A side-by-side comparison makes it easy to see the differences.

This direct comparison helped you quickly identify the strengths and limitations of each printer, making it easier to determine which model best supports your card issuance volume, security requirements, and budget. By evaluating them together, you can make a smarter choice that ensures efficiency and reliability for your ID card printing needs.

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