Most processors can run hotter than the average max temp is set at in BIOS. However, I wouldn't set it above say 75.

I would suspect the fan(s) in the first place and, being quite cheap, it would be a good idea to replace them. If the problem still persists, maybe the heatsink isn't transferring heat from the CPU effectively and might need some new heatsink paste on it.

A year ago, I was working on a friend's computer trying to fix a temperature and fan problem.  The motherboard software didn't include  any type of temp-voltage monitoring software.  After searching online for a bit I came across a Freeware program, called SpeedFan. I was surprised to find out how powerful this little app was.  It ended up being just what we needed to control the temperature problem of my friend's computer.   

So, I would suggest giving it a try.  SpeedFan is Freeware, and it works wonders with System Temp-Voltage Control.     

Here's a Copy-Paste of the Program Description for SpeedFan:

This program monitors fan speeds, temperatures and voltages in computers with hardware monitoring chips. It can even access S.M.A.R.T. info for those hard disks that support this feature and show hard disk temperatures as well. Its main feature is that it can control the speed of the fans according to the temperatures inside your PC, thus reducing noise and power consumption. It can even set the FSB on some motherboards.

To Download the program, simply do a Google Search for  "SpeedFan"

Hope that helps.

Thank you very much to all who offered solutions.  Unfortunately I have been away from my computer for a few days so have not yet implemented the suggestions - but will do so now.

Noel

I don't have SpeedFan, is this any help?

http://www.almico.com/sfscreenshots.php

Thanks for that info.  Answers follow.

The tower is placed on a low shelf under my computer desk and is on the opposite side of the room from the window, which has a balcony outside, so sun light never penetrates to my desk.  The computer is about 5 inches from the wall on one side, the other side is open - leg space, at the back it is about 10 inches from the back wall, which has a large power operated fan in it to take warm air behind the desk.  The top of the desk is about 10 inches above the top of the computer.  I should explain that the powered fan is there because the warm air coming from the top of the case was rising into my face - not comfortable!  My room is small so there is really no where else a tower case can go.

When this problem first arose I did a thorough dust removal job and did that again when I installed the Arctic fan - so at least at the present there is not a dust problem.

No memory sticks permanently in the USB ports.

The inside of the case is pretty open and all the cords except the new one to the Arctic fan are tied neatly.

Yes, I did check that all fans are operating.

The only thing that occurs to me after checking all this is that the air intake to the case is a couple of rows of openings pressed out of the side of the case.  Could insufficient air flow be the problem?  If so should I drill more holes in the same side of the case, or put another fan blowing into the case somewhere?  Not sure that there would be any place to put an inward blowing fan, though - the far side of the case from the air holes is pretty well covered by the motherboard.

All this is getting beyond me.  Never-the-less today the CPU did not go above 55C and now at 1820 is running nicely at 52C - so may be I should accept the big improvement and get on with life!?

Thank you again for your help - not only have you taken me a long way to solving the problem, but taught me a lot as well - I am most grateful.

Noel

Wow,

That is a big improvement.   You went from 70-90 C to 52-55 C .   There were a bunch of suggestions on what to do, any idea as to what it was that made the huge improvement?  Was it SpeedFan? or some adjustments/cleaning ?

Btw, here is another little tip.  For Fans, you can double them up...what I mean by that is you screw one fan into the case, then the other fan gets screwed into the fan that is already in the case.   

That may already be obvious to you, but for some reason, people don't think to do that.   

Adding all the case fans sometimes will work,but usually you end up will a box that sounds like a jet engine is running.You have to move some air but allot of times you end up with a negative air flow in the box when you pull out more than you put in.All of my builds I use a copper heat sink and arctic silver thermal compound.A decent processor fan and just a couple of case fans.I have never had a box run over 50c even playing heavy games.Just my 2 cents.