Need opinion on CPU temperature - long

[Trophy1]

Can someone explain why my CPU temp is extremely lower than 'before?" Do you think it's a combination of hardware and installation? Or one particular thing? The temperature readings are all the same in three different programs. Sandra, Everett edition, and Aopen's Silent Tek.

My set-up BEFORE

Motherboard - MSI 6656 845E chipset P4 2.26
fan/heatsink - cheap $10 coolermaster - runs at 3600 RPM
Thermal paste - Artic silver 3

THE WAY I PUT THE THERMAL PASTE ON
I put a small amount on the chip (about the size of TWO BBs) and smeared it all over the chip. Thin layer of course (almost paper thin layer) BEFORE - CPU temperatures was 50C to 52C idle and 60C full load.

________________________________________

AFTER

NEW motherboard - Aopen AX4SPE 865PE chipset
CPU - Same as above
fan/heatsink - Same as above
NEW Thermal paste - Artic silver 5

I had a Zalman fan/heatsink but it stopped working and I don't

know why. Crappy expensive thing and it breaks.
THE NEW WAY I PUT ON THE PASTE

I followed Artic silver's instructions (Instructions Ignored in the past do to lack of knowledge and or ignorance)
AFTER - CPU temperature is 36.5C idle and 45C full load.

[RicheemxX]

more than likely the temps on your old mobo were being reported wrong however it is possible that the new mobo just runs a tad cooler and the AS 5 conducts heat that much better...but that type of temp drop leads me to think your old mobo was innaccurate