My AMDx2 4400 non-overclocked CPU is overheating. It runs about 60c on Idle and 68C under full gaming load (71c is rated safest highest end.) I have the side of the case open now which cooled it to 68c with full gaming load. Before that it would shoot up to 80c and beyond… When I stop playing game it returns to 60c and even lower (54c) VERY fast. Chipset and GPU temps are just fine. The CPU fans spins very fast (5000 and up) and I have an intake fan in front of the system and an output fan below the power supply. My PSU (550 watt) is a little over a year old. I have blown the dust out of the cpu sync, and as it is fairly new, there was no dust there, Very clean.

The thermal interface between your CPU and HSF is probably the problem. There may be a thermal pad or thermal paste that is not in appropriate contact with the CPU or HSF. I'd clean off both, put a small amount of generic thermal paste between the CPU and HSF, and see if things don't imrpove dramatically.

Thanks, I am familiar with thermal paste and where it goes, but what is a thermal pad?

A thermal pad is what usually comes preinstalled on a new heatsink. If you bought a new X2 4400+ w/HSF, it had a thermal pad. Here's a pic: http://www.i-constructions.com/imag...

Thermal pads can be confusing too. It is possible to install the HSink without removing the shipping plastic covering the pad.