As far as I can remember, these two systems are identical:

Linux Version 2.2.14-5.0, Compiled #1 Tue Mar 7 20:53:41 EST 2000
       One 133MHz Intel Pentium Processor, 32M RAM, 53.04 Bogomips Total

Linux Version 2.4.3-20mdk, Compiled #1 Sun Apr 15 23:03:10 CEST 2001
       One 133MHz Intel Pentium Processor, 32M RAM, 264.60 Bogomips Total

The first one, with the older kernel and lower speed, appears to respond
faster.