I have an Alienware M17 x R2 with dual 5870s in crossfire about a month ago I took them apart to repaste them everything went well doing that. Once they were put back together I noticed what you see in the photos now a black line. I had run the crossfire bridge wrong and thought I had broken the cable. I ordered a different one from China and I am having the same issue. What caused me to order a new crossfire cabel was that when I would pull on the old one in a certain way the black line would go away. I have also stressed each card separately in the left slot and no corruption happens. Does anyone have an idea as to what might be causing this?