E8400 and temps - not sure if I am OK or not...

That's quite high for idle, what's your overclock? Make sure your vcore isn't on automatic; the BIOS is probably supplying too much juice. Set it to the VID (default voltage to run at stock) to start.

its high for a good cooler

its ok for that junk cooler! lol!

freezer is a poor cooler in my opionon for many reason - they do seem a little high.

the pins work great - did you make sure they where all rotated right?

did you install out off the box or in? with push pins the clear divider that speads when the pin is pushed down can catch and hang up

i suggest you remove it, it seems high - you may not have enough compound?

if you use the bb method and did not spread it then wait a few days AS takes along time to flow and wet

Thanks.

It seems with fan control on, it is keeping things a little on the warm side (which is OK, because the noise is low), so it seems to skew things vs. running the fan at full tilt. Fan max is ~3000RPM and with fan control on, its in the low 1000's.

What should my goal be at idle, and under load?

Am I looking at the CORE 0 and CORE 1 temps, or at the general temp the board gives me?

I installed it with the board installed (really no other way to), and it looks like everything is OK. I will give it a few more days, and if things don't improve, I will reinstall it.