Problem:  fans never increase in speed when CPU temps approach what I believe are dangerous levels.

Specs:
Dell Precision T7400
Dual 4 core Intel Xeon X5492 @ 3.40GHz
12GB Kingston PC2-5300 (ordered/installed based on Kingston recommendations for this system).

First, all fans are spinning - moving a perceptible amount of air.  When I boot the system with the side cover off, it notes the case intrusion (thermal compromise) and runs the fans at full blast resulting in a Tornado of delightfully angry airfkiw.  When the side cover is off, it will not bring the speed back down until I replace the cover (or depress and hold the switch) and reboot.

I receive no errors at startup and presume the inlet air sensor is fine.

Based on every reference I can find for this processor, the max temp is 63°C (http://ark.intel.com/products/36893/Intel-Xeon-Processor-X5492-12M-Cache-3_40-GHz-1600-MHz-FSB?wapkw=slbbd)

I've monitored CPU temps with:

CoreTemp 1.0 RC4
CPUID HWMonitor
Piriform Speccy

All programs read the same values within a few °C under idle and full loads.

No, °F is not a factor.

When I load up BOINC projects and pin all 8 cores at 100% utilization, the CPU temps skyrocket (relative to the 63°C Max).  Core temps range from 78-90°C with the 2nd CPU running about 10°C higher than the first.  If I allow this to run for say 15 minutes or so, Memory temps will increase to comparable temperatures, and what little silent breeze is trickling out the back is VERY hot.

I know the CPU has built-in thermal protection, but this seems excessive.

Does anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Steve