Please, could you specify which system do you have, what kernel, and cpu/mem configuration? Just to get a clue.
operating system:
Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
( updated Edubuntu 7 through 8.04 )
kernel:
$ uname -r
2.6.32-23-generic
$ uname -a
2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 07:54:58 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux
cpu:
$ less /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 107
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+
stepping : 1
cpu MHz : 1908.776
cache size : 512 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 0
cpu cores : 2
apicid : 0
initial apicid : 0
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm extapic cr8_legacy 3dnowprefetch
bogomips : 3817.55
clflush size : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc 100mhzsteps
mem:
Two banks of Corsair 1024MB, DDR2
$ lshw -c Memory
*-memory:0
description: System memory
physical id: 3
size: 2012MiB
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 0
size: 128KiB
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 1
size: 512KiB
*-memory:1 UNCLAIMED
description: RAM memory
product: MCP55 Memory Controller
vendor: nVidia Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: a1
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
capabilities: bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-memory:2 UNCLAIMED
description: RAM memory
product: MCP55 Memory Controller
vendor: nVidia Corporation
physical id: 1.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:01.2
version: a2
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz (15.2ns)
configuration: latency=0