Originally Posted by chrestomanci 
My advice would be to test the CPU using the retail heat sink, and if there is a problem, put in a warranty claim. Once you have established that the CPU is fine, go ahead and void the warranty by using a better heat sink.
Thanks for that tip. I'm waiting on Scan for an E8400, and I've got my fingers crossed that it will be from a batch that doesn't have these heat problems. If it turns out to be running too hot or has the cores reporting inconsistent temperatures, I fully expect it to be RMAed. One of the reasons for choosing it was the fact it was supposed to run cooler (and thus, quieter) than the old 65nm chips. I could do without the hassle of installing it with the stock HSF first to test it, so I'm looking forward to some clarification from Scan on this issue as well.