I meant to ask - is the only place you can check your temp at start-up... in the BIOS?
Thank you!
Nope, not at all.
Here's a free utility that can let you monitor it. I've tried it on a few machines and it works.
Hmonitor will do the same thing(google it if speedfan doesn't work). If you're on a machine less than 2 years old, there should be a utility bundled with the machine, but that's always speculative. Some machines simple did't bundle it from the box.
Spot check your temps, 60C is too high, 50s are high, but tolerable. Below that, you're set.