Problem with waterblock seating.

Screw them down until some resistance in a criss-cross pattern.
Screw them down some more in a criss-cross pattern.
Screw them tight in a criss-cross pattern.

top-right, bottom-left, top-left, bottom right.

Yeah thats how I do it, you think it should be ok?
I might just lap my waterblock.
Not sure how else to bring the temps down.

I have the same thing, lapping shaved a few degrees off, but don't expect this kit to work too well, mine is at 41 degrees idle, 48 load on the CPU in my sig.

here is a great site to get the lapping stuff from:

http://www.easypckits.com/

I got the premium kit plus some final finishing compound, and lapped my CPU as as well as my water block.

Where is your radiator and what kind and what kind of fan is blowing on it? Pics please. That will help a lot.

You are using the ThermalTake Big Water SE correct? assuming so, that is about the best you are going to get, just because it is a water cooler, doesn't make it better than an air cooler. I have one TT 120mm fan at ~70-80 CFM pulling with one 120mm ~60-70CFM pushing , along with plenty of air flow in the case. The pump is too weak, radiator too small, tubing too small, waterblock not very good. It is however a good introduction to water cooling. Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks for the tips everyone.
I guess I did assume that water cooling would be better than air.
What is bugging me is why the temps would be better with the cheap white grease that came with the case rather than the £10 (shipped) Arctic silver 5

Thats why we hate to see anyone buy those kind of kits, high end air will do as well or better...That and you cant hardly upgrade them the pumps die like fies and the CPU block crack out all the time...They are dangerous...I'd use a stock HSF before I would risk my rig to one of those kits...

32 - 33 idle today (room 19)
Guess in time the as5 might just do the trick.
Its still 10c cooler than with the 3 air coolers I tried.
The kit is better than them at least.

If its tight it will be level.

Your motherboard will bend before the socket and cpu will so the chances of it beeing off is pretty low.

What I will say is remove the pci covers, haveing warm air blowing into the case is a big problem for me as my graphics cards pump out masses of heat to and don't get the cool air they need.