debian-5.0.3 on ThinkPad A21e : dude, where's my RAM ?

[Ionreflex <ionreflex@gmail.com>]

Hi all,

I've just installed a fresh debian on an old IBM ThinkPad A21e (see cpuz info in attachement) and I'm kinda bedazzled - in the wrong sense! - at how much an idle system seems to hog RAM : out of 256, half of it is always used...

I've tried a default Ubuntu and Xubuntu install, but browsing the Internet was a sluggish nightmare, that is why I've decided to give it a go with debian, installing the base system and laptop pack only (added openssh-server after reboot). I'll attach a stripped log about memory info, if anybody as any ideas or hints about what's going on it would be really appreciated!

Tanks

Ion

Title: CPU-Z 1.45 HTML report file

CPU-Z 1.45 report file

Processor(s)

Number of processors	1
Number of cores	1 per processor
Number of threads	1 per processor
Name	Intel Celeron
Code Name	Coppermine
Specification
Package	Socket nanoBGA2
Family/Model/Stepping	6.8.3
Extended Family/Model	6.8
Brand ID	1
Core Stepping	cB0
Technology	0.18 um
Core Speed	597.8 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed	6.0 x 99.6 MHz
Stock frequency	600 MHz
Instruction sets	MMX, SSE
L1 Data cache (per processor)	16 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 32-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache (per processor)	16 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 32-byte line size
L2 cache (per processor)	128 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 32-byte line size

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge	Intel i440MX rev. 01
Memory Type	SDRAM
Memory Size	256 MBytes
Memory Frequency	99.6 MHz (1:1)
CAS# Latency (tCL)	3.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD)	2 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP)	2 clocks
DRAM Idle Timer	32 clocks

System

System Manufacturer	IBM
System Name	2628CXF
System S/N	XXXXXXX
Mainboard Vendor	IBM
Mainboard Model	2628CXF
BIOS Vendor	IBM
BIOS Version	KUET36WW (1.13 )
BIOS Date	06/11/2003

Attachment: putty.log
Description: Binary data