I never heard of an XP 2900. I have an XP 2800, and an XP 3000. The 3000 is in an Asus MB and typically reads fairly "warm" most of the time in MBM5. However, when it claims to be recording 62 Celcius, I can still reach into the insides of the system, and wrap my fingers around the base of the Vantec AeroFlow TMD heat sink. It feels just warmer than ambient, not even "Luke Warm". At a reading of 65 Celcius, only THEN does the heat sink start to be sorta warm.
Speedfan is in fairly close agreement with MBM5 about my A7N8X. Have you used more than one monitoring program to see if both say the same thing? I think the BIOS' health monitor also "claims" my 3000 is running hot . .
My Thunderbird 1.33's heat sink base, on the other hand, at a reading of 47-50 Celcius, was uncomfortable to touch. Not painfully hot, but fairly hot nevertheless. What I'm getting at is to use the readings only to compare this particular CPU and HSF against itself. If it SAYS it's 60, but you can touch the heat sink, don't worry. If it says that it's 40, but it stinks of burnt insulation and is so hot you don't want to think about touching it, THEN you worry and look around for a more efficient het sink device.
The Volcano 11 should be pretty decent, if not running the fan at its slowest speed. You should always try for a Frosty Tech review of the heat sink you want to buy. They test 'em better than anyone else does.
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