Problem with make -j xxx

[Brederlow <goswin.brederlow@student.uni-tuebingen.de>]

I run into several problems using
> make -j 5
to compile packages. make doesn't fork multiple gcc's.
> make -j
on the other hand works as expected, but forks far to often.

I'm now wondering if that behaviour is a problem with the makefiles or 
with make itself.

Can anybody help out there?

may the Source be with you.
			Mrvn