performance and core temperature
 

i would like to know how hot can a computer get before it starts to loose performance. also, does the PC crash if it overheats?
i have a fan on the graphic card, one on the mainboard and one on the side of the case.
thanks for any info.

Normally, your BIOS will shut down a computer if your CPU reaches a critical point concerning heat. This is adjustable I believe. As far as vid cards, I think they will go until they fry. Each piece of hardware has it's own boiling point so it is hard to determine if there is an average temp a CPU or vid card can handle before performance is lost. You will need to look specifically for your hardware. Such as my Phenoms will reach critical mass somewhere around 65-70 degree C. My CPU run at around 42-45 degrees C under intense use so I have plenty of cooling going on.