I think Chase is right. I've had this problem on and off while trying the nvidia 195 drivers. Rolling back to the 173 driver typically has worked for me. I've seen it on Ubuntu 9.10 and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, AMD64. Here's my dmidecode info: # dmidecode 2.9 SMBIOS 2.4 present. 63 structures occupying 2992 bytes. Table at 0x000F0000. Handle 0x0000, DMI type 208, 12 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D0 0C 00 00 01 05 FE 00 EC 01 01 02 Strings: 20040101 00000000 Handle 0x0001, DMI type 218, 47 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: DA 2F 01 00 2E 14 33 09 0E 10 00 05 80 05 80 01 00 10 F5 10 F5 00 00 00 80 00 80 01 00 02 80 02 80 01 00 00 A0 00 A0 01 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Strings: Handle 0x0002, DMI type 0, 24 bytes BIOS Information Vendor: Dell Inc Version: 1.1.11 Release Date: 08/02/2007 Address: 0xE0000 Runtime Size: 128 kB ROM Size: 512 kB Characteristics: ISA is supported PCI is supported PNP is supported APM is supported BIOS is upgradeable BIOS shadowing is allowed Boot from CD is supported Selectable boot is supported BIOS ROM is socketed EDD is supported 5.25"/360 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h) 5.25"/1.2 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h) 3.5"/720 KB floppy services are supported (int 13h) 3.5"/2.88 MB floppy services are supported (int 13h) Print screen service is supported (int 5h) 8042 keyboard services are supported (int 9h) Serial services are supported (int 14h) Printer services are supported (int 17h) CGA/mono video services are supported (int 10h) ACPI is supported USB legacy is supported BIOS boot specification is supported Function key-initiated network boot is supported Targeted content distribution is supported BIOS Revision: 1.1 Handle 0x0003, DMI type 1, 27 bytes System Information Manufacturer: Dell Inc Product Name: Dimension E521 Version: Serial Number: G2L02D1 UUID: 44454C4C-3200-104C-8030-C7C04F324431 Wake-up Type: Power Switch SKU Number: Family: Handle 0x0004, DMI type 188, 255 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: BC FF 04 00 4B 38 4E 50 54 44 52 41 4D 30 03 00 00 00 00 00 2F 01 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 05 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 07 00 00 00 01 30 00 D0 40 00 10 0A 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 00 EF 02 00 0C 01 00 00 00 01 01 00 00 01 02 00 00 01 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E0 3C F8 00 E0 3C F8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 46 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 22 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 13 91 16 0C 20 12 92 00 10 0C 01 00 79 80 10 37 88 88 FF FE 15 14 15 15 15 14 14 15 15 00 00 00 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 16 16 00 00 00 37 41 00 00 15 14 15 14 14 15 14 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 16 16 15 16 3A 44 00 00 22 13 11 10 00 2F 28 00 22 13 11 10 00 2F 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Strings: Handle 0x0005, DMI type 190, 255 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: BE FF 05 00 00 00 00 D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 30 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Strings: Handle 0x0006, DMI type 2, 8 bytes Base Board Information Manufacturer: Dell Inc Product Name: 0UW457 Version: A04 Serial Number: ..CN6986174L02CD. Handle 0x0007, DMI type 3, 17 bytes Chassis Information Manufacturer: Dell Inc Type: Desktop Lock: Not Present Version: Serial Number: G2L02D1 Asset Tag: Boot-up State: Unknown Power Supply State: Unknown Thermal State: Safe Security Status: Unknown OEM Information: 0x00000000 Handle 0x0008, DMI type 4, 35 bytes Processor Information Socket Designation: Socket M2 Type: Central Processor Family: Sempron Manufacturer: AMD ID: B1 0F 06 00 FF FB 8B 17 Signature: Family 15, Model 107, Stepping 1 Flags: FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip) VME (Virtual mode extension) DE (Debugging extension) PSE (Page size extension) TSC (Time stamp counter) MSR (Model specific registers) PAE (Physical address extension) MCE (Machine check exception) CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported) APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported) SEP (Fast system call) MTRR (Memory type range registers) PGE (Page global enable) MCA (Machine check architecture) CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported) PAT (Page attribute table) PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension) CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported) MMX (MMX technology supported) FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore) SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions) SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2) HTT (Hyper-threading technology) Version: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ Voltage: 1.3 V External Clock: 1000 MHz Max Speed: 3000 MHz Current Speed: 2100 MHz Status: Populated, Enabled Upgrade: Socket 939 L1 Cache Handle: 0x000E L2 Cache Handle: 0x000F L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided Serial Number: Asset Tag: Part Number: Handle 0x0009, DMI type 5, 24 bytes Memory Controller Information Error Detecting Method: 64-bit ECC Error Correcting Capabilities: None Supported Interleave: One-way Interleave Current Interleave: One-way Interleave Maximum Memory Module Size: 4096 MB Maximum Total Memory Size: 16384 MB Supported Speeds: 70 ns 60 ns 50 ns Supported Memory Types: Standard DIMM Memory Module Voltage: 2.9 V Associated Memory Slots: 4 0x000A 0x000B 0x000C 0x000D Enabled Error Correcting Capabilities: None Handle 0x000A, DMI type 6, 12 bytes Memory Module Information Socket Designation: DIMM_4 Bank Connections: 0 1 Current Speed: Unknown Type: Other Unknown EDO Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x000B, DMI type 6, 12 bytes Memory Module Information Socket Designation: DIMM_3 Bank Connections: 2 3 Current Speed: Unknown Type: Other Unknown EDO Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x000C, DMI type 6, 12 bytes Memory Module Information Socket Designation: DIMM_2 Bank Connections: 4 5 Current Speed: Unknown Type: Other Unknown EDO Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x000D, DMI type 6, 12 bytes Memory Module Information Socket Designation: DIMM_1 Bank Connections: 6 7 Current Speed: Unknown Type: Other Unknown EDO Installed Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Enabled Size: 1024 MB (Double-bank Connection) Error Status: OK Handle 0x000E, DMI type 7, 19 bytes Cache Information Socket Designation: Internal Cache Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 1 Operational Mode: Write Back Location: Internal Installed Size: 128 KB Maximum Size: 128 KB Supported SRAM Types: Synchronous Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: None System Type: Other Associativity: 4-way Set-associative Handle 0x000F, DMI type 7, 19 bytes Cache Information Socket Designation: Internal Cache Configuration: Enabled, Not Socketed, Level 2 Operational Mode: Write Back Location: Internal Installed Size: 1024 KB Maximum Size: 1024 KB Supported SRAM Types: Synchronous Installed SRAM Type: Synchronous Speed: Unknown Error Correction Type: Single-bit ECC System Type: Unified Associativity: Other Handle 0x0010, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: IDE1 Internal Connector Type: On Board IDE External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: None Port Type: Other Handle 0x0011, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: FLOPPY1 Internal Connector Type: On Board Floppy External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: None Port Type: 8251 FIFO Compatible Handle 0x0012, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB1 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0013, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB2 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0014, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB3 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0015, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB4 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0016, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB5 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0017, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: USB6 Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Access Bus (USB) Port Type: USB Handle 0x0018, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: VIDEO Internal Connector Type: DB-15 female External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: None Port Type: Video Port Handle 0x0019, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: AUDIO Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: None Port Type: Audio Port Handle 0x001A, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Line Out Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Handle 0x001B, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Mic In Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Handle 0x001C, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: Line In Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: External Connector Type: Mini Jack (headphones) Port Type: Audio Port Handle 0x001D, DMI type 8, 9 bytes Port Connector Information Internal Reference Designator: ETHERNET Internal Connector Type: None External Reference Designator: Not Specified External Connector Type: RJ-45 Port Type: Network Port Handle 0x001E, DMI type 9, 13 bytes System Slot Information Designation: SLOT1 Type: Other Current Usage: In Use Length: Other Characteristics: 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported Handle 0x001F, DMI type 9, 13 bytes System Slot Information Designation: SLOT2 Type: Other Current Usage: Available Length: Other Characteristics: 3.3 V is provided PME signal is supported Handle 0x0020, DMI type 9, 13 bytes System Slot Information Designation: SLOT3 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: Available Length: Long ID: 3 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided PME signal is supported Handle 0x0021, DMI type 9, 13 bytes System Slot Information Designation: SLOT4 Type: 32-bit PCI Current Usage: In Use Length: Long ID: 4 Characteristics: 5.0 V is provided PME signal is supported Handle 0x0022, DMI type 10, 10 bytes On Board Device 1 Information Type: Video Status: Enabled Description: nVidia Integrated Video On Board Device 2 Information Type: Ethernet Status: Enabled Description: Broadcom 5754 On Board Device 3 Information Type: Sound Status: Enabled Description: Sigmatel 9220 Audio Handle 0x0023, DMI type 11, 5 bytes OEM Strings String 1: www.dell.com String 2: 1[01ED] String 3: 3[1.4] String 4: 4[0001] String 5: 6[DA] Handle 0x0024, DMI type 212, 28 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 1C 24 00 70 00 71 00 00 10 2D 2E 42 00 11 7F 80 43 00 11 7F 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0025, DMI type 212, 128 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 80 25 00 70 00 71 00 00 46 7A 7B A1 00 56 9F 00 A3 00 56 9F 20 A2 00 56 9F 40 EB 00 3C EF 00 EA 00 3C EF 10 05 01 58 FE 00 06 01 58 FE 01 28 00 58 E7 00 29 00 58 E7 08 2A 00 58 E7 10 2B 00 5B 00 00 2C 00 5C 00 00 F6 00 55 FE 00 F5 00 55 FE 01 55 00 51 F3 00 6D 00 51 F3 04 8E 00 51 F3 08 2C 01 52 7F 80 2B 01 52 7F 00 51 00 65 F0 01 52 00 65 F0 03 54 00 65 F0 04 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0026, DMI type 212, 173 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 AD 26 00 70 00 71 00 00 46 7A 7B 2E 00 53 FC 00 6E 00 53 FC 01 2D 00 53 FC 02 27 01 53 FC 03 0B 00 52 C7 20 0C 00 52 C7 00 0E 00 52 C7 08 0D 00 52 C7 10 07 00 52 F8 00 08 00 52 F8 01 09 00 52 F8 02 0A 00 52 F8 03 0F 00 50 8F 00 10 00 50 8F 50 11 00 50 8F 10 12 00 50 8F 30 13 00 51 1F 00 14 00 51 1F A0 15 00 51 1F 40 16 00 51 1F 80 9D 00 3E F8 00 9E 00 3E F8 01 1C 00 3C DF 20 1D 00 3C DF 00 41 01 53 EF 10 40 01 53 EF 00 3E 01 4A FE 00 3F 01 4A FE 01 90 00 36 F3 00 92 00 36 F3 04 91 00 36 F3 08 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0027, DMI type 212, 113 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 71 27 00 70 00 71 00 00 46 7A 7B 22 00 42 FD 02 23 00 42 FD 00 46 01 61 3F 80 47 01 61 3F 40 AB 00 42 1F 20 AC 00 42 1F 40 AD 00 42 1F 60 AE 00 42 1F 80 8C 00 49 F9 02 8D 00 49 F9 00 09 01 49 F9 04 4E 01 43 FB 04 4F 01 43 FB 00 E2 00 49 7F 00 E4 00 49 BF 00 E3 00 49 7F 80 E5 00 49 BF 40 2D 01 4A F7 00 2E 01 4A F7 08 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0028, DMI type 212, 68 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 44 28 00 70 00 71 00 00 46 7A 7B 09 40 44 EF 00 08 40 44 EF 10 0B 40 44 DF 00 0A 40 44 DF 20 37 01 36 CF 00 39 01 36 CF 10 01 01 56 E7 00 02 01 56 E7 08 03 01 56 E7 10 04 01 56 E7 18 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0029, DMI type 212, 78 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: D4 4E 29 00 72 00 73 00 04 00 00 00 17 01 E4 FE 00 18 01 E4 FE 01 19 01 E4 FB 00 1A 01 E4 FB 04 1B 01 E4 EF 00 1C 01 E4 EF 10 1D 01 E4 BF 00 1E 01 E4 BF 40 19 00 8F 00 A0 C4 01 8F 00 A1 1A 00 8F 00 A2 1B 00 8F 00 A3 FF FF 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x002A, DMI type 240, 94 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: F0 5E 2A 00 4D 49 43 5F 4F 57 4E 54 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 Handle 0x002B, DMI type 13, 22 bytes BIOS Language Information Installable Languages: 3 n|US|iso8859-1 n|US|iso8859-1 r|CA|iso8859-1 Currently Installed Language: n|US|iso8859-1 Handle 0x002C, DMI type 15, 27 bytes System Event Log Area Length: 128 bytes Header Start Offset: 0x0002 Header Length: 16 bytes Data Start Offset: 0x0012 Access Method: General-purpose non-volatile data functions Access Address: 0x0000 Status: Valid, Not Full Change Token: 0x00000000 Header Format: Type 1 Supported Log Type Descriptors: 2 Descriptor 1: POST error Data Format 1: POST results bitmap Descriptor 2: Log area reset/cleared Data Format 2: None Handle 0x002D, DMI type 16, 15 bytes Physical Memory Array Location: System Board Or Motherboard Use: System Memory Error Correction Type: None Maximum Capacity: 4 GB Error Information Handle: Not Provided Number Of Devices: 4 Handle 0x002E, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x002D Error Information Handle: Not Provided Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 1024 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM_4 Bank Locator: Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 533 MHz (1.9 ns) Manufacturer: 7F98000000000000 Serial Number: 55CC75EE Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: 99U5429-006.A00LF Handle 0x002F, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x002D Error Information Handle: Not Provided Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 1024 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM_3 Bank Locator: Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 533 MHz (1.9 ns) Manufacturer: 7F98000000000000 Serial Number: 58CC18EE Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: 99U5429-006.A00LF Handle 0x0030, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x002D Error Information Handle: Not Provided Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 1024 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM_2 Bank Locator: Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 533 MHz (1.9 ns) Manufacturer: CE00000000000000 Serial Number: 770A5C56 Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: M3 78T2953EZ3-CE6 Handle 0x0031, DMI type 17, 27 bytes Memory Device Array Handle: 0x002D Error Information Handle: Not Provided Total Width: 64 bits Data Width: 64 bits Size: 1024 MB Form Factor: DIMM Set: None Locator: DIMM_1 Bank Locator: Type: DDR2 Type Detail: Synchronous Speed: 533 MHz (1.9 ns) Manufacturer: CE00000000000000 Serial Number: 770A5CA1 Asset Tag: Not Specified Part Number: M3 78T2953EZ3-CE6 Handle 0x0032, DMI type 19, 15 bytes Memory Array Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF Range Size: 4 GB Physical Array Handle: 0x002D Partition Width: 0 Handle 0x0033, DMI type 20, 19 bytes Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00000000000 Ending Address: 0x0003FFFFFFF Range Size: 1 GB Physical Device Handle: 0x002E Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0032 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x0034, DMI type 20, 19 bytes Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00040000000 Ending Address: 0x0007FFFFFFF Range Size: 1 GB Physical Device Handle: 0x002F Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0032 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x0035, DMI type 20, 19 bytes Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x00080000000 Ending Address: 0x000BFFFFFFF Range Size: 1 GB Physical Device Handle: 0x0030 Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0032 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x0036, DMI type 20, 19 bytes Memory Device Mapped Address Starting Address: 0x000C0000000 Ending Address: 0x000FFFFFFFF Range Size: 1 GB Physical Device Handle: 0x0031 Memory Array Mapped Address Handle: 0x0032 Partition Row Position: 1 Handle 0x0037, DMI type 26, 22 bytes Voltage Probe Description: Voltage Location: Processor Status: OK Maximum Value: Unknown Minimum Value: Unknown Resolution: Unknown Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: Unknown OEM-specific Information: 0x00000038 Nominal Value: 0.001 V Handle 0x0038, DMI type 220, 22 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: DC 16 38 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x0039, DMI type 27, 14 bytes Cooling Device Type: Fan Status: OK OEM-specific Information: 0x0000003A Nominal Speed: 1 rpm Handle 0x003A, DMI type 221, 19 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: DD 13 3A 00 00 01 00 05 00 10 F5 64 00 0A 00 64 00 0A 00 Strings: Handle 0x003B, DMI type 28, 22 bytes Temperature Probe Description: Temperature Location: Processor Status: OK Maximum Value: Unknown Minimum Value Unknown Resolution: Unknown Tolerance: Unknown Accuracy: Unknown OEM-specific Information: 0x0000003C Nominal Value: 0.1 deg C Handle 0x003C, DMI type 220, 22 bytes OEM-specific Type Header and Data: DC 16 3C 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Handle 0x003D, DMI type 32, 11 bytes System Boot Information Status: No errors detected Handle 0x003E, DMI type 127, 4 bytes End Of Table