Some time ago we wondered about some funny connectors we spotted on the RV570 reference design, manufactured in ATI's small SMT line in Canada. Now we have an explanation. ATI decided to copy NVIDIA's idea of wiring its multi-GPU connectors onto the graphics card. The connectors similar to the SLI connection are ATI's internal connectors with which it will allow to connect up more CrossFire boards. The upcoming RV570 and RV560 chips and the cards based on them, branded as Radeon X1950 PRO and Radeon X1650 XT, will have these internal CrossFire connectors. So again a change coming shortly from ATI to improve their CrossFire technology. - The Inquirer

Mystery internal ATI CrossFire connection revealed

ATI clearly got an idea from NVIDIA about it, but NVIDIA's SLI connector is one way only. It can either send or receive data but cannot send and receive at the same time. ATI's connector works both ways as it will offer increased bandwidth between multiple cards. It took ATI a year to make the internal connectors. We also heard that the upcoming R600 chipset will use the same marchitecture and two-way CrossFire internal connectors. NVIDIA informed us a year ago that CrossFire needs a higher bandwidth than the PCI Express 16x one and that the cards need to be connected internally or externally. It seems they were right.

Internally, with two-way lanes, is likely the fastest and most effective way and you will start seeing this in ATI's mainstream or faster cards starting from October the 17th. So normally with the introduction of the Radeon X1950 PRO, and also the Radeon X1650 XT graphics accelerators. So some changes coming, and these should give an extra boost to the CrossFire technology. At least that's what we hope...