[mysqld]
user = mysql
pid-file = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.pid
socket = /var/run/mysqld/mysqld.sock
port = 3306
basedir = /mysql/
datadir = /data01/data
tmpdir = /tmp
thread_cache_size = 64
table_cache = 64
key_buffer = 64M
sort_buffer_size = 256K
read_buffer_size = 256K
read_rnd_buffer_size = 256K
max_allowed_packet = 1M
tmp_table_size=16M
max_heap_table_size=16M
query_cache_size=64M
query_cache_type=1
log_output=FILE
slow_query_log_file=/mysql/slow1.log
slow_query_log=1
long_query_time=3
log-error=/mysql/error.log
innodb_data_home_dir = /data01/data
innodb_data_file_path = ibdata1:1000M:autoextend
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 768M
innodb_additional_mem_pool_size = 8M
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 1
innodb_support_xa = 0
innodb_lock_wait_timeout = 50
innodb_flush_method=O_DIRECT
innodb_log_files_in_group = 2
innodb_log_file_size = 64M
innodb_log_buffer_size = 8M
innodb_thread_concurrency = 8
via planet.mysql.com
MySQL settings are somewhat like magic. But perhaps this set of settings from planet.mysql.com should help out just a bit... especially since stock mysql settings in Ubuntu assume a box with 64 meg of RAM.
Unless you're partying like it's 1999, avoid the default defaults and go with these or one of the other ones listed on the site above.