With my computer ( late-model Athlon XP ) I try to keep the CPU below 70C, the northbridge below 40C, and the hard drives and general case temperature below 35C . The CPU can safely be run at temperatures up to the point where it starts crashing or giving bad results ( it " will " crash before temperatures reach the danger zone ), but doing so can reduce the life expectancy somewhat-- instead of failing after ten years, it might fail after eight .-- Serie 19 : 37, 27 September 2006 ( UTC)
