Rendering Pc?

I currently have:

Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 Ghz o.c. to 3.0 Ghz
EVGA 8800 GTS 512mb
Gigabyte P35 All Solid Capacitor mobo
OCZ Reaper DDR II 2x1Gb
OCZ Gamexstream 700W power supply (4 +12v rails @ 18 each)
Raidmax Smilodon Case (4x80mm & 1x120mm fan(s))
Windows XP Home

I know that rendering is very very cpu intensive
i was wishing there was a way to lower some of the strain on my cpu by increasing other components but i'm beginning to think that won't work.

i know some people use dual cpu's like xeons or something..

what do you guys suggest?

if you have experienced the struggle of rendering you know what i feel..

my cpu runs at 100% both cores the entire render, and turns my room into an oven for a short time so i have a huge floor fan cooling it.