First boot!

[congo]

Put a photo in the ad, I'm always chasing a bargain.  ;D

[Ivan]

AMD temperature on idle depends on the core version. Newer ones with a rectangular core are cooler.
My old 1800XP (square core)runs around 50C idle and 65-70 on full load, while the new one (last 2400XP series with 266FSB and rectangular core) is a lot cooler, 35-40C idle and around 60-65 at 100% load.

For the older series XP they had 2 different types: a normal (max 85C) and a 'tropical' one (max 95C)... most likely because of heat problems.

The new XP has a max temperature of 85C, but as the older one still is supported FSB-wise, the shutdown trigger can be changed from the 85C default to the 95C of the special version.
All temperatures based on the internal sensor reading, which became available with the Athlon XP...

ASUS probe can't be trusted concerning processor temperature on some boards (A7V333 for example). to combat the problem, they changed the software to indicate about 10C less than the actual reading.
A program that does the job a little better is MBM 5. This one can read all the temp, fan speed and other sensors that are fitted on the board...

[congo]

Please note that although the maximum temperatures Ivan quoted are rated for AMD CPU's, it's my understanding that some will crash and possibly damage well before the official max. temps.

A case in point, my old XP1600+ cpu which doesn't like over 60* at all, and will always crash before 65* is reached. It did this from the time I bought it.

[Ivan]

The real heat allowance differs for each specific processor anyway... Both of mine have been to 85C+ and back and survived

[congo]

Here is a more complete history of my AMD XP1600+ CPU...... (and not, unfortunately, of the different micron processes used in the production of the CPU's, resulting in varying voltages and operating temps per type, the newer CPU's using less voltage hence lower operating temps in general!)

When my CPU was just a baby, I put it in the mainboard with ram, power and video connected to see if it would post, WITHOUT the heatsink installed! I was aware that it was a no no, and I had it on for less than 10 seconds.

At the time I wasn't aware that this could cause damage in such a short amount of time. I always wondered if that initial few seconds might have damaged it, I'll never know, but I suppose it's possible.

[Pinchaser...]

thats about how long it takes with an AMD.....  :'(

[Delta_]

Just set-up in your bios a limit to which the temperature can go before the CPU is shut off.  Then if anything bad happens your CPU won't break.