I've manage to resurrect an Intel Q9550 Core 2 Quad @ 2.83Hz and get a System going.....
I downloaded a Programme called Speccy, which tells you all about your hardware setup.... CPU Temp / all other necessary info.
Speccy is telling me my CPU Temp at idle is averaging 54*C ( brand new fan & heatsink fitted and right amount of paste applied ) .....but when I check the Temp in my Bios ... it says .... 44*C / 109*F at idle.
I tend to regard the Bios information to be true....
Probably both. If I understand correctly, Speccy is running within the OS (Windows)? If so, the machine will probably be at a different form of idle than when in the bios screens - it will in fact be doing something for the OS.