<?
$max=100000;
set_time_limit(4000);

for ($n=0; $n<=$max; $n++)
{
  $a[$n]="a$n ";
  $b[$n]="b$n ";
  $c[$n]="c$n ";
  $d[$n]="d$n ";
  $e[$n]="e$n ";
  $f[$n]="f$n ";
  $g[$n]="g$n ";
  $h[$n]="h$n ";
  echo "$a[$n] $b[$n] $c[$n] $d[$n] $e[$n] $f[$n] $g[$n] $h[$n]\n";
}
?>
Run this script then watch php memeory size with the ps -eo command.
PHP has been config'd with a max of 8MB. Our machines have 40, 64, and 128 MB.
We have this probelm with php3, and php4, both as a DSO for APAche and as a standaolone cgi.