i7 930 + Stock HSF - Need Input

I just finished building my system this past week, listed below:

CPU+Motherboard - Intel Core i7-930 + GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R
Memory - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
Graphics Card - XFX HD-585X-ZNFV Radeon HD 5850
PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX
SSD - Intel X25-M 80GB Retail
HDD - 2 x SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache
Optical - LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50 - OEM
Case - COOLER MASTER CM690 II Advanced Black

I am using stock HSF and MX-3 thermal paste. After running LinX and Prime95 Blend I get the following temps (this is the best I can do):

Idle: 43/38/42/38
Load: 90/89/88/85

I have tried reseating my heatsink several times (have already used half my tube of. So I guess my first question is are these 1) normal, and 2) safe temps for the stock HSF. I have searched online and some people have achieved cooler temps with stock HSF but I cannot figure this out to save my life..

If these temps are too high, can someone give me tips on how to apply TIM and the HSF with the STOCK HSF. I am not interested in getting an aftermarket cooler right now. I just wanted to get my system up and running without overclocking first at optimal temps with the stock HSF. I did the line method originally but those yielded even worse temps. I have been doing about 1/2-3/4 size pea in the middle. Should I be using less (like BB size).

Please don't tell me I need to get aftermarket, because that's something I already know. I just need input on my temps for stock HSF and how I can get them lower (or is it just a lost cause)

If this helps, with my Gigabyte board, I did "Load Optimized Defaults" in my BIOS and loaded the XMP profile for my RAM so that it would run at the correct speeds. Everything else is set to Auto. First time builder here, so any input would be appreciated.

For stock cooler you cannot actually ask for better temps than what you have. You can maybe change the settings in the bios for the fan to run full all the time. Also make sure power management features are on in bios will help a little for temps also. Yes you do need aftermarket cooler for sure will help alot. Also youre high temps you will not hit at all when just messing with comp so I say they look pretty damn good. You talk about other people and there temps the prob there is there ambient temps maybe alot less than youres. I have a 120 extreme 1366 I will sell ya cheap but no fan but have the cradle for fan I just changed to h20...

temps are good for stock cooler.

For stock cooler, the temp you got is fine.

Temps are alright, but you might want to upgrade. The coolermaster hyper 212 is really good for the price ($20-25) or if you want to go a bit more the corsair h50 is $60 at best buy.

I was just about to write out a spiel about the coolermaster hyper 212 for air cooling and the corsair h50 for liquid cooling, but that just echos what Tune just said. I'm personally running the hyper 212 and I am seeing 47-50 at idle across the cores @ 3.86ghz and never breaking 77 at full burn.

If you're building a computer somewhat mid-level, it is COMPLETLY beyond me why anyone would even think to use the stock intel cooler? Drop 30-50 bucks and get a good cooler.

If you lower your RAM speed, the CPU load temps will go down a bit.

Try lowering it to 1066 and see how much that gets you under load.

My system:

i-7 920 DO
Asus P6T SE
Antec P183
Noctua NH-U12 P SE2

I'm glad others are saying the temps are normal. When I first got my system with the stock cooler at stock settings, I think my temps. were similiar. I actually stopped Prime95 before the temps. got past around 86 degrees for fear of damage -- and it got there really quick. At the time, I read of others on the internet doing an overclock on the stock cooler and I was disappointed since I thought I got a "hot" CPU.

With my Noctua and an overclock at 3.8 Ghz (with HT on), I now get temps. of around 83 degrees at the highest.

Basically, I think you should get an aftermarket cooler. If you are worried about power consumption, just turn on speedstep and make sure windows power management is on balanced and not high performance.

I'm not sure why you would bother with trying to get the stock fan to get lower temps when you're going to go for an aftermarket cooler anyways.

Improper application of TIM only affects temperatures by about 5 C at the most, unless you are using way too much (hard, since when you put on the heatsink, the excess TIM gets pushed out anyways), or too little (much less than what you are using).