I have an AMD Sempron 2500 running at 1.75GHz. The CPU temp is reported at 50 C. Is this too high? I have read that cpu temp should be no higher than system temp (presently 38 C). Ambient temp presently 22C.

Presently it just has the fan and heatsink that came with the CPU. Should I install one of those directed airflow tubes directly to the cpu?

Will cooling the temp by another 10c (if possible) result in better performance?

"I have read that cpu temp should be no higher than system temp (presently 38 C)"

Not true. Generally, the CPU temp at idle should be within 10C of the system temp, but it really depends on the make/model of the CPU. Some CPUs simply run hotter than others.

"Ambient temp presently 22C"

My question to you is, why is the system temp so high? Explain your case cooling configuration. If you can bring the system temp down, the CPU temp will drop along with it.

My temps are currently, room @ 20C, system @ 25C, CPU @ 31C.

The case has one internal fan on the back panel, adjacent to the power supply's fan. Both are exhausting outwards.

With an ambient temp of 22c, the system temp is presently 38c and cpu is 50c.

Interestingly, if I take the top (side) cover off, the system temp goes down only up 2 degrees and the cpu stays the same.

I am running a Winfast A340T video card which generates a fair amount of its own heat (no fan on card, just heatsinked) which will be adding to the inside temp?

Maybe the indicated system and cpu temps are wrong?

Sorry, typo. The third para should read "Interestingly, if I take the top (side) cover off, the system temp goes up 2 degrees and the cpu stays the same."