I read http://bugs.centos.org/view.php?id=2189 Summary: CentOS is not getting optimal performance in a virtualized environment and on slow cpus but I am not sure I understand the current best practice. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Options as I see them: 1. Run kernel-vm-2.6.18-53.1.4.el5 with clocksource=pit until the excellent CentOS team builds the latest kernel into a VM kernel (This is working for me now). 2. Run kernel-2.6.18-53.1.6.el5 with divider=10 and hope the clock does not go fast (I have not tried this).