CPU Cores Overheating

[VCobra]

Hello everyone.

Let me start off by saying that I've owned this computer since February, 2010, and it has worked perfectly up until a month ago (or so). I will post the specs a bit further down.

All of the sudden, the computer started shutting down during certain games.
I cannot play Left 4 Dead, Mass Effect 2 and Prototype for more than a few minutes, whereas I can play Team Fortress 2, Defense Grid, CoD: Black Ops for as long as I'd like. Those games are the only ones I've tested with thus far.

I downloaded CPUID HWMonitor and OCCT to see if anything is going on.
I saw that the temperatures of my 4 cores are insanely high - 60°C under no load, and when my friend sent me a BitCoin link that uses CPU processing power, the temperature started rising until it was at 99°C, after which my computer shut down. Mind you, all of this was done with my computer's side panel off.

A friend suggested I go to BIOS and reset its settings to failsafe settings (?), and the temperature of my cores dropped to 50°C average (still with the side panel off).

One friend suggests I should get better fans/cooling, while another suggests I should get a new PSU.

Here are the specs:

CPU: Intel Core i7 860 LGA1156
Motherboard: GIGABYTE I5 LGA1156 I55P (GA-P55-UD4)
RAM: DDR3 4GB PC1600 KINGSTON
HDD: WD 640GB SATA2 16MB
Graphics card: GIGABYTE NV 250GTS 1GB (GV-N250OC-1GI)
Computer case:ATX GIGABYTE (GZ-AA2CB-SNB)
PSU: ATX 550W GIGABYTE (GE-P450P-C2)

I would really appreciate it if you guys could (if nothing else, at least try ) to help me out here.

Regards,

V. Cobra

 

[MindoverMaster]

A new PSU will do nothing. Have you cleaned out your heatsink, and/or fan of dust? At the very least, reapply the thermal paste.

 

[VCobra]

I have tried cleaning all the dust I can, but I've no canned air or such to fully rid it of dust. I am a total newbster when it comes to hardware, so me reapplying thermal paste is like a monkey trying to chew through concrete.
I will, however, ask one of my ex-co-workers to take a look and see, as he is quite the technology enthusiast.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Thermal paste shouldn't need to be re-applied, just get a can of compressed air, and follow the directions to clean the CPU and GPU heatsinks out.

 

[MindoverMaster]

It's very very simple. Was easy the day I started it. Some canned air can go a long way, mate.

 

[VCobra]

Thermal paste shouldn't need to be re-applied, just get a can of compressed air, and follow the directions to clean the CPU and GPU heatsinks out.

I realize this may sound quite lame, but will I have to disassemble anything?

 

[patonb]

Yes

I'd double check your cpu fan is spinning... Its a possibility the fan has failed or unplugged.

 

[VCobra]

My CPU fan is spinning at around 1300 RPM right now, under no load (running Steam + Avast! + Chrome).

UPDATE: I just tried running Mass Effect 2 windowed + CPUID HWMonitor, and my CPU Core temp. didn't go over 72°C, and on TF2 (windowed, no border) it never went above 54°C.
This is all very strange.

 

[MindoverMaster]

We jinxed it for ya. But still, get a can of air and blow the thing to ****, while computer off. Just take the side panel off, and maybe take the heatsink fan off. Very simple.

 

[VCobra]

I've had the side panel off for the whole day. It's late night time here and tomorrow it's going to be around 36°C outside, so getting to that can of air will have to wait a bit, lol.

I honestly appreciate all the comments, thank you guys! If there's anything else you want to add, feel free to do so.