FreeBSD 4.10 vs. 5.3/5.4

All tests not exactly scientific, but good indicators.  Tests run with BitTorrent download of FreeSBIE 1.1 and download from ftp.freebsd.org of FreeBSD 5.4 iso running simultaneously. 

Internet connection is 6.0 Mb down, 512 Kb up.  Test hardware is the same Soekris net4501 for all tests.  I can easily and repeatedly replicate these results. 

m0n0wall 1.2b3
FreeBSD 4.10

Almost a constant 6 Mb, except when incoming traffic couldn't fill the pipe. 

m0n0wall 1.2b7
FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE #0

(downloads began at first peak to 3.5 Mb half way through, continued on exactly like this)

3.2-3.8 Mb, CPU pegged at 100%

pfSense
FreeBSD 5.4-PRERELEASE #1

Following sysctl's at their default setting:

debug.mpsafenet: 1
debug.mpsafevm: 1

4-6 Mb, widely fluctuating.  CPU between 70-100%. 

pfSense
FreeBSD 5.4-PRERELEASE #1

Following sysctl's changed from default:

debug.mpsafenet: 0
debug.mpsafevm: 0

1.5-4 Mb with a lot of fluctuation.  Mostly between 2-3.5 Mb.