A thin layer of thermal interface material (a.k.a. TIM) placed between a cpu and heatsink greatly improves heat transfer. Every new cpu cooler ships with some fresh TIM. The TIM may be sealed in a syringe...
Silver-based thermal grease is a top performer, but a lot of what's for sale is fake. Here are a few warning signs to look for: Low weight : Silver paste weighs about 2.5 times more than plain white silicone...