Maximum safe GPU temp?

[Dodgebot]

What is the hottest safe temperature for a gpu, Mine is currently on average, Say with skyrim running on medium settings for about 40 minutes-1 hour or so, at 85C. I realize Skyrim is pretty demanding in general, but with testing its only made about a +5-10C difference, Roughly the same ballpark as the other games I play. My chip is an old ATI radeon 4850, I know its old and I'm looking to replace it, But I'm wondering if I should be in constant fear of doing permanent harm to my PC/GPU in the 1-2 more months range.

Idle temp ( with say, the window it takes to type this up ), with a little extra help seems to be around 70C. I've removed the side panel of my tower, Which seemed to cause it to peak into the 100+ range... ( Thanks Dell.. ) Pretty sure my GPU is just reaching the end of its life but it can't be helped in the very short term, Basically I'm just asking so I should know whether or not it's time to facewall. ( Think- facepalm on roids. )

 

[Vettedude]

Heatsink might be getting dusty. Have you cleaned your computer out?

 

[ko888]

Temperature depends on the cooler that the graphics card manufacturer uses. The big complaint with the reference design Radeon HD 4850 was that it ran too hot.

MSI R4850 Radeon HD 4850 512 MB
Temperatures: Idle 77°C, Load 91°C, Load + OC(675 MHz GPU, 1000 MHz Memory) 92°C

PowerColor Radeon HD 4850 512 MB
Temperatures: Idle 73.5°C, Load 95.5°C, Load + OC(682 MHz GPU, 1069 MHz Memory) 96.5°C

Sapphire HD 4850 Toxic 512 MB
Temperatures: Idle 54°C, Load 87°C, Load + OC(755 MHz GPU, 1251 MHz Memory) 96°C

Powercolor PCS HD 4850 512 MB
Temperatures: Idle 55°C, Load 88°C, Load + OC(731 MHz GPU, 1014 MHz Memory) 93°C

HIS HD 4850 IceQ4 TurboX 512 MB
Temperatures: Idle 46°C, Load 62°C, Load + OC(775 MHz GPU, 1171 MHz Memory) 64°C

Sapphire HD 4850 512 MB 100245L
Temperatures: Idle 47°C, Load 68°C, Load + OC(741 MHz GPU, 1089 MHz Memory) 70°C

 

[Dodgebot]

So in the range of about 80-90 is about normal when it's under strain?

 

[ko888]

So in the range of about 80-90 is about normal when it's under strain?

Appears so.

 

[Dodgebot]

Well I appreciate the help, Glad to know I suppose. Granted I guess it isn't ideal but I suppose I can rest easy knowing I'm not going to find a puddle at the base of my tower.