high cpu load on mysql vm

[shahar fl]

hi,

i'm using mysql 5.0.77-3 on centos 5.2 32 bit, on esxi v4.0.
my vm has 4vcpu(intel E5420 on DL360G5) and 3GB of RAM.
i've started with 1 vcpu, then moved to 2 vcpu, and lately due to high load on the vm, i've reached to the limit of 4 vcpu on the vm.

i see in top that mysql consumes all 4 vcpus and half of it goes to user time, and half to kernel time.
i do not has any IO load on the vm or memory shortage, the cpu is just dead.
i've read on some forums that mysql does not deal well with multiple CPUs.
when adding extra vcpu to a machine should i add any configuration to the vm's OS or mysql config ?

thanks.