[CentOS] Checking fan state

>I read something in a forum, that said the CPU temperature can go to
>100 C., in a few seconds, but I now wonder if that is true or not.

Yeah, turn on a machine w/o a heatsink :) In a couple of seconds it will
get so hot that you can't touch it and the internal safety threshold on the
proc will shut it down. I suspect the mobo might have a bios that can control
the fan speed and the hysteresis or whatever technique it uses to control
reaction time. My Asus has this IIRC...

jlc