from stock heatsink to CM 212 and 2 degree drop - first thing that comes to mind is your casing airflow and ambient temperature.

if those are not good, don't even think about huge drop in operating temperature.

nope. when you put too much thermal paste - all it happens is the paste will spread over the surface of the processor and soiling the sides.

the temperature still works the same since the paste still transfer heat to the heatsink.

anyway thermal paste wouldn't affect too much. again, if casing airflow is bad and room temperature is warm, even precision application of the best thermal paste wouldn't help.

understand that how cool your processor can be is all depending on dissipation. if the surrounding air is warm and lack airflow, the heatsink is just surrounded by warm air that cannot absorb heat from the fins.

---

Added on May 6, 2011, 2:33 amwarm / non-air cond room with quad core AMD - it's not surprising the temps are like that on load.

have good airflow and good heatsink, cheap cheap RM 5 white color paste also works fine.