Maximum temperature for Core i7?

[ambam]

What is the maximum temperature a Core i7 is designed to withstand before taking damage and getting fried?

What are the typically ideal idle and load temperatures for that CPU?

I have an ASUS P6T SE X58 mobo, ZALMAN CNPS9900, CM HAF 932 case, and an i7 930, the stock intel cooler and thermal compounds aren't very good from what I've heard.

I should have plenty of OC'ing headroom with the case and cooler?

 

[LePhuronn]

The stock Intel cooler is fine - it's designed to do the job of cooling the chip. It's NOT designed for overclocking, which is why people get new heatsinks.

Your Zalman though isn't very good either beyond stock speeds so it's not much of a difference.

The CPU will automatically throttle back when it hits 100 degrees Celsius to prevent damage, but the general consensus is to never let your CPU go above 70.