I've always gone by the individual core temps, I believe the core temps and the CPU temp are taken from different points on the CPU, and the Core temps are hotter than the CPU temp, So I go by the hottest temp and make sure it doesnt go past 73C
+ All the programs i use to monitor temps dnt show me a CPU temp, BTW I couldn't get Everest to work, The free version didn't have any sensors and the ultimate required a product key and said that my Trial period had expired.