Which is a better buy, Creality Ender 3 v2 or Ender 5?

[G4rf13lt]

So i'm currently looking at the Creality Ender 3 v2 and Ender 5 3d printers, but my knowledge is still a bit limited and I'm reading up on them as much as I can. I'm not sure which one to choose and they are prices similarly. According to most articles the Ender 5 has better advantages (sturdier frame and larger z-axis) than the Ender 3, but not sure if this is the same with the Ender 3 v2. Is there anyone here with enough knowledge that can help me make a decision on which to get?

 

[Andrew_Smith]

@ravingDIODE

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

The Ender 5 has a larger build volume. had both - preferred the Ender 5 for the ability to print larger prints.
They are both out the Creality stable, a lot of parts are similar/same and also interchangeable.
The movement system is different on each. Much of a muchness and if you're not wholly in to the 3D printer scene it wouldn't mean anything to you.
There are some inherent annoyances on both that aftermarket mods can easily address. Aftermarket mods printed on the printer itself for the most part

Ultimately the Ender 5 is certainly the better bang for buck purchase IMO.

 

[Keenen]

No too sure about the 5, but I just got the E3 v2 and its amazing. Only a pleasure to print on, silent stepper motors, its about as loud as a gaming desktop with fans on full.
It's only my second printer so don't know too much about all the printers out there!

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

No too sure about the 5, but I just got the E3 v2 and its amazing. Only a pleasure to print on, silent stepper motors, its about as loud as a gaming desktop with fans on full.
It's only my second printer so don't know too much about all the printers out there!

You have the silent board with trinamic drivers ?
As loud as a gaming PC with fans on full is insanely loud?
I could barely hear anything when my Ender 5 was printing - sure - I heard the movement a bit, but it was nowhere near the sound of a gaming pc with fans at full bore. If I left the room and walked 5 steps away couldn't hear the printer at all.

 

[Keenen]

You have the silent board with trinamic drivers ?
As loud as a gaming PC with fans on full is insanely loud?
I could barely hear anything when my Ender 5 was printing - sure - I heard the movement a bit, but it was nowhere near the sound of a gaming pc with fans at full bore. If I left the room and walked 5 steps away couldn't hear the printer at all.

Got just the stock v2, can't hear the printer making a move or anything. Only sound is the small fans that are on the hot-end and the PSU. Perhaps my gaming PC is pretty quiet compared to others Can have a conversation in the same room and its not too obtrusive!

 

[Miz3r]

Got just the stock v2, can't hear the printer making a move or anything. Only sound is the small fans that are on the hot-end and the PSU. Perhaps my gaming PC is pretty quiet compared to others Can have a conversation in the same room and its not too obtrusive!

Mine is exactly the same.

The hottend fan and psu fan compete which has the best fan noise haha.

So much for the silent board hey if they still sound like my 1080ti founders edition at 100% fan speed.

I want to do the noctua fan upgrades but getting a buck converter for the fans from 12v to 24v just seems like something I will bugger up.

But overall the ender 3 v2 is a breeze to print with.

Would love a bigger print volume but that's the price you pay to have bigger toys. And for me the ender 3 v2 just works for what I need for now.

And bed leveling is actually super easy once you figure it out.

Here's mine on my table for now. Done quote a few aethetic mods to it and works fantastic.

Sent from my ELS-NX9 using Tapatalk

 

[phenix456]

I’ve also been looking at getting the ender 3 v2. There’s quite a few reviews of each printer but almost no direct comparisons. In the end, the newer board, silent operation and better screen is pointing me towards the ender 3 v2.

Where have you guys bought from (printer & filament)?

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

I’ve also been looking at getting the ender 3 v2. There’s quite a few reviews of each printer but almost no direct comparisons. In the end, the newer board, silent operation and better screen is pointing me towards the ender 3 v2.

Where have you guys bought from (printer & filament)?

The board and silent mods are available on both platforms.

Best 3D Printing store I reckon is DIYElectronics

 

[ravingDIODE]

I have the Ender 5 Pro with the silent board. Love it.

But if I had to buy now, I would choose the Ender 3 v2 PURELY because of the 32bit board.

That said, I have the Ender 5 because I want the larger print volume for pots etc and I bought a 32bit board that I will install soon.

 

[G4rf13lt]

I have the Ender 5 Pro with the silent board. Love it.

But if I had to buy now, I would choose the Ender 3 v2 PURELY because of the 32bit board.

That said, I have the Ender 5 because I want the larger print volume for pots etc and I bought a 32bit board that I will install soon.

What are the advantages with the 32bit board?

 

[ravingDIODE]

What are the advantages with the 32bit board?

Print a bit faster, do more calculations and supports more features. You can also enable more features if you want to flash your own stuff.

For example, my Ender 5 has the silent 8-bit board. I have one planter that I made, it has A LOT of very fine and small movements. On my ender 5, at 30mm/s, it prints a few mm, stops, processes, prints a few mm, rinse repeat.

Put it on my Prusa board or any of the other printers with 32bit, it is fine.

The Ender 3 v2, has some upgrades which will come to the Ender 5 soon. So the v2 Ender 3 is a better spec'd machine I would say.

But if you want volume, then the Ender 5.

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

Print a bit faster, do more calculations and supports more features. You can also enable more features if you want to flash your own stuff.

For example, my Ender 5 has the silent 8-bit board. I have one planter that I made, it has A LOT of very fine and small movements. On my ender 5, at 30mm/s, it prints a few mm, stops, processes, prints a few mm, rinse repeat.

Put it on my Prusa board or any of the other printers with 32bit, it is fine.

The Ender 3 v2, has some upgrades which will come to the Ender 5 soon. So the v2 Ender 3 is a better spec'd machine I would say.

But if you want volume, then the Ender 5.

That's not entirely accurate.

Creality Upgrade Ender 3 V4.2.7 Silent Motherboard 32 Bit with TMC2225 Driver BootLoader for Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 5/Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Buy Creality Upgrade Ender 3 V4.2.7 Silent Motherboard 32 Bit with TMC2225 Driver BootLoader for Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 5/Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

The 32 bit boards are available for Ender 5. Has been for a while. The boards are interchangeable between the Ender 3 and 5.
Yes, some benefit of the 32bit board over the standard 8bit but for a first time user it's certainly not a deal breaker.
Further enhancements can be done using a raspberry and Octoprint if you want.
Possibilities are endless.

The Ender 5 has always been seen as an upgrade to the Ender 3. The next generation essentially.
If you're going to buy a printer, especially in the same brand like Creality, future proof it a little. And no need to go with all the bells and whistles right off the bat.
Forget about the jargon about better boards and drivers and steppers and screens and other mumbo jumbo. All of that can be changed down the line as your printing skills improve. Right out the box they print perfectly fine as is.

Buy something that will grow as your skills grow (it's not exactly possible though - but worth a consideration). I outgrew my first 3D printer many moons ago in a week. The build size was too small. I outgrew my Ender 3 in about a month - same problem. I outgrew my Prusas and Wanhaos and Flashforge in the blink of an eye. Every single one the same issue ultimately. Build volume.
The Ender 5 even got to a point where I wanted to go bigger.

The Ender 3 is an amazing little device. It's earned it's reputation. But the Ender 5 offers you all the Ender 3 does and a bit more options for a little bit more bucks.

 

[G4rf13lt]

That's not entirely accurate.

Creality Upgrade Ender 3 V4.2.7 Silent Motherboard 32 Bit with TMC2225 Driver BootLoader for Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 5/Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer: Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Buy Creality Upgrade Ender 3 V4.2.7 Silent Motherboard 32 Bit with TMC2225 Driver BootLoader for Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 5/Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

The 32 bit boards are available for Ender 5. Has been for a while. The boards are interchangeable between the Ender 3 and 5.
Yes, some benefit of the 32bit board over the standard 8bit but for a first time user it's certainly not a deal breaker.
Further enhancements can be done using a raspberry and Octoprint if you want.
Possibilities are endless.

The Ender 5 has always been seen as an upgrade to the Ender 3. The next generation essentially.
If you're going to buy a printer, especially in the same brand like Creality, future proof it a little. And no need to go with all the bells and whistles right off the bat.
Forget about the jargon about better boards and drivers and steppers and screens and other mumbo jumbo. All of that can be changed down the line as your printing skills improve. Right out the box they print perfectly fine as is.

Buy something that will grow as your skills grow (it's not exactly possible though - but worth a consideration). I outgrew my first 3D printer many moons ago in a week. The build size was too small. I outgrew my Ender 3 in about a month - same problem. I outgrew my Prusas and Wanhaos and Flashforge in the blink of an eye. Every single one the same issue ultimately. Build volume.
The Ender 5 even got to a point where I wanted to go bigger.

The Ender 3 is an amazing little device. It's earned it's reputation. But the Ender 5 offers you all the Ender 3 does and a bit more options for a little bit more bucks.

Thanks for the thorough answer. Everything went from 0 to 100 very fast this morning. Found out someone staying close to me was selling a secondhand Ender 5 Pro with a few rolls of filament and bought it for a fairly good price. So now the learning curve begins...

Thanks to everyone for your input!!

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

Thanks for the thorough answer. Everything went from 0 to 100 very fast this morning. Found out someone staying close to me was selling a secondhand Ender 5 Pro with a few rolls of filament and bought it for a fairly good price. So now the learning curve begins...

Thanks to everyone for your input!!

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

Congrats.

Out of interest what did you pay?

 

[G4rf13lt]

Congrats.

Out of interest what did you pay?

R5500. It's 6 months old and got 3 rolls of filament with. Als the bed was replaced with a glass bed.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

 

[Qui_Illustrati]

R5500. It's 6 months old and got 3 rolls of filament with. Als the bed was replaced with a glass bed.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

Not a bad price considering the extra filament

Sold mine for a similar price if i recall - don't entirely recall if the buyer negotiated my price down

[Sale] - Creality Ender 5 - Silent Edition | Printers & Cartridges

Item: Creality Ender 5 - Silent Edition Age: 1 month Price: R5500 Warranty: I'm sure DIYELECTRONICS covers this Packaging: Original Condition: Excellent - Virtually new - purchased last month Location: Cape Town 😁 Reason: See below Shipping: It's possible but not really preferable. Weights...

carbonite.co.za

Enjoy!

 

[G4rf13lt]

Not a bad price considering the extra filament

Sold mine for a similar price if i recall - don't entirely recall if the buyer negotiated my price down

[Sale] - Creality Ender 5 - Silent Edition | Printers & Cartridges

Item: Creality Ender 5 - Silent Edition Age: 1 month Price: R5500 Warranty: I'm sure DIYELECTRONICS covers this Packaging: Original Condition: Excellent - Virtually new - purchased last month Location: Cape Town 😁 Reason: See below Shipping: It's possible but not really preferable. Weights...

carbonite.co.za

Enjoy!

Yeah I was trying to negotiate but the guy kept adding more filament to keep the price the same, and I kept pushing for 1 more roll until he said that was enough