highest temps 6600gt can take?

While running 3DMark06 with an oc'd XFX Geforce 6600GT, I noticed the max temp I ever got was 78C. Needless to say there were some artifacts throughout the firefly and canyon flight tests, before I aborted.

I reset the clock speeds back to stock (500mhz gpu, 1ghz mem) but at the time of the tests I had it oc'd at 555mhz gpu and 1.12ghz mem.

What temps can the 6600gt take? Are the artifacts any sign of permanent damage?

 

No, artifacts aren't a sign of permanent damage, unless they are there all the time off-course.

nVidia GPU's reduce the frequency of the chip when it reaches 127 degrees C.

That doesn't mean you should run it at that, or anywhere near that. It's just a safety mechanism.

 

My 7800GTX hits 83c.

Stock overlock of 1.3ghz on the ram.