I’m using the latest Ubuntu on a 3 ghz Core I3 with 2gb of RAM. Almost everyday it crashes and completely freezes the computer so I have to reset. Has anyone else had this problem and know the solution?
which version of blender are you using? 2.5x?
Whenever a Linux completely freezes it points with a given certainty towards a hardware failure - that or a problem with ACPI, entering different power states or using CPU throttling.
First step, run memtest86+
Are you saying that Blender makes Ubuntu crash or are you saying that Ubuntu is crashing and you don’t know why? If you need Ubuntu help not related to Blender, try some Ubuntu forums. If it seems to be Blender causing the problems, maybe someone here can help. Either way, it’s hard to diagnose a problem when you give so few details.
Personally, 10.04 crashes, hangs, freezes, whatever you want to call it, when running 2.49 b or 2.5 beta. Hard booting seems to be the only way to get back, and this only happens with Blender. Blender worked fine a few days ago on XP, until XP completely quit working for some reason. I have also used previous versions of Ubuntu and never had problems with Blender.
Echoing arexma, I think you need to eliminate any hardware problems first. Try using the mem86 app available when you boot from the Ubuntu DVD/CD. I have had problems with Blender and faulty RAM in the past. XP much happier with crapped RAM than the linux kernel. Random crashes are also often a power supply problem, sometimes only apparent when the system is under load. Is Blender working the CPU hard when it crashes? Is the GPU being thrashed when the system locks? Borrow a good high wattage PSU from a gaming mate to test?