My system temperature is weird?

My computer is placed in the basement where it is often very cooled, even in the summer. I can't remember if I said this before but yes, I did open the slots underneath the video card so perhaps that might be a good reason to believe that the CPU is kept in the 50C range (assuming the SIW readings are correct). There are still artifacting in my game play so it still suggest overheating problem, however I can't figure which one now as SIW all the reading seems normal, including my GPU with 100C+ during real time in a game, which is said by one of the member here that it is normal.

What are the common overheating causes of artifacting if I may ask?

Well, Damage to the GPU from overheating is also a possibility. I'm not a gamer, so I really can't tell you how much of a beating a video card can take, before the artifacting becomes permanent. I think that 100C is too high, but again, I don't game.

Many video cards come with software to control fan speed and overclocking. Does yours?

As to your CPU temps, I think that under heavy use the CPU temp should rise a few degrees. or (?)

I would still argue that you can't remove a CPU HSF, the replace it without redoing the thermal compound, but as always, your results may vary

That said, I'm sure there are different hardware monitors you can try. I don't know what else to say you should download. Perhaps somebody has another idea.

Thank you for all of your comment once again.

I also think the 100C+ GPU is too high but people say 8800GT can take this temperature while other disagree, I have no idea which is true. Wiki said NVIDIA got sue for supposely knowing the overheating problem but continue production and sales to consumer.
Anyway, I did think about the suggestion for overclocking the fan speed on the card but it was advise to do so with care since it might further damage the card if it is not done with care so I steered clear of that option since I'm no expert.

I will take your advise about the CPU HSF in mind and try to get my hand on some thermal compound and apply to the CPU.

Once again, thanks for all your help, it granted me some insight to the overall problem and hopefully this will lead me close to a better solution.

I think you misunderstood my comment about overclocking and fan speed.

Those are actually two different issues. The software for video cards controls different aspects of performance.

Some people slow their fan down on the video card because of noise. In some cases it it controlled by need, (speeds up as the card gets hot), but in your case, I would speed up the fan always, at least at first, to see if it might help.

Overclocking is increasing the memory and GPU speed of the card, and IMHO it should be avoided by most people, and certainly by you.

I hope that clears things up a little. Post back if it doesn't

What would be a safe percentage to set my new fan speed at then? Wouldn't speeding up cause the card to degrade faster, as some post on the internet (google) said, the fan of the card is not manufactured to maintain such high speed for the long period of time, hence wouldn't it be dangerous to up the fan speed?