Like Jon, I have had a number of 8KHA+s and think its pretty good as a rule.
In socket thermistors that are air cooled seem to usually read about 10 or 11c less than an on-die sensor; water cooled usually shows about 3 to 5c higher temp (air not getting behind the socket or some such...)
Comparing temp readings between two different systems is not very accurate at best: way too many variables exist before you even consider the accuracy of the sensors.
I use the indicated temperatures of others as a target when I first build (or re-build) as system, after that I gather data from THAT system. If I run stable at an indicated 40c or 65c makes little or no difference to me- it is when the temp I normally run at changes that I get concerned.
That said, I find 8KHA+ mobos are happiest at or below 43c or so- above that and high fsb speeds get flaky requiring me to drop my FSB below 166mhz.