Intel's 955X with dual-graphics capability to be the 975X

Intel plans to release a new upgraded version of the 955X chipset which will feature support NVIDIA's SLI and possibly also ATI's CrossFire.

This chipset will be called the Intel 975X chipset and to put it blunt it will be a 955X with dual x8 capability and support for two GeForce 6600 or higher cards. Performance and price wise this chipset will clearly be positioned above the 955X, but it won't be as fast as NVIDIA's recently launched nForce SLI x16 chipset.

Whether the 975X will support Crossfire or not is uncertain as of this time and appears to be more of a licensing than a technology issue. A launch date for the new Intel flagship chipset has not been set. However, "early February" would not be a bad guess", one source said.

Intel hasn't officially mentioned the 975X yet but it will likely release it together with the 65nm Pentium D 'Presler' 900.