Overclocking limits of ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650

i own a dell inspiron laptop with follwing configuration
core i5-->2.93 Ghz
1 GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
4 GB RAM
my GPU clock limits are:
450 MHz (core speed)
600 MHz (memory)
with such configuration, when i play HD games like NFS THE RUN, my GPU temperature goes upto 96-98˚C, WITHOUT ANY OVERCLOCKING, within a few minutes, whereas people advice that the safe limit temperature should be around 80-85˚C

i ve completed the NFS THE RUN game(i think it must be also around the same GPU temp. of 96-98˚C, but had not checked at that time, WITHOUT ANY GAME CRASHES)
even now too, i dnt witness any INTERMEDIATE CRASHES in any games.
even when idle(when no games being played), my gpu temperature remains at 60˚C whereas people say it should be around 45-47˚C.
now when i overclocked my GPU(using MSI AFTERBURNER) to 510 MHz(core) and 660 MHz(memory), and i completed 2 races in that NFS game, upon checking, it shows around the same GPU temperature of 98-99˚C.

i really dont understand, whats happening, with such high GPU temepatures(even without overclocking),

should i overclock my GPU 4 better performance in HD games(cz with such overclocking the FPS of certain HD games r improved a bit????????
IS MY GPU SAFE??(its been a year that i ve been playing games at such temp, and i was not knowing about it untill i discovered it recently, but still no crashes till now)

 

Well, your GPU is getting that hot because it needs a reapplication of thermal compound.

You aren't damaging it though, not unless it exceeds more than 100C.

 

Well there's two factors:

1. How well was it originally applied?
2. How long ago was it applied?

A GPU should never overheat, if the machine's cooling solution is competent. If it does, the compound is not properly functioning, and needs to be changed.

 

3. The fan may be dead or struck with dust.

 

the temperatuure of my GPU goes upto 95-98 C only in the game NFS RUN and about 90 C while playing NFS HOT PURSUIT.
while playing other HD games like ARKHAM CITY, DIRT 3(dx11 game which is played on dx10 supported card) virtua tennis 4, PES 2012, assasins creed relevations, it remains at 78-80 C(max 82 C)
but in both the cases, softwares like GPUz show the same(max) clockspeed-->99%-100%.

i really dont understand whats the problem,
upon calling dell, they said everything is fine as i m not getting ay artifacts or abnormal shutdown.
but the thing is i m getting afraid that 95-98 C is gar too much............