ext3 sequential write thoughput degrades in 2.5.72-mm1

[Steven Pratt]

Compared with 2.5.72 the mm1 tree drops off on sequential write 
throughput for ext3. All other filesystems seem unaffected.  This 
degrade stays in mm2 and mm3.  Do not have the data from 2.5.73 yet.
Full data can be found at:
http://ltcperf.ncsa.uiuc.edu/data/2.5.72-mm1/2.5.72-vs-2.5.72-mm1/

                                     tolerance = 1.00 + 3.00% of 2.5.72
                 2.5.72   2.5.72-mm1
    Theads      MBs/sec      MBs/sec    %diff         diff    tolerance
---------- ------------ ------------ -------- ------------ ------------
         1        42.98        43.54     1.30         0.56         2.29
        16        11.04         6.08   -44.93        -4.96         1.33  *
        64         3.88         2.61   -32.73        -1.27         1.12  *

Results:Sequential Write CPU (Graph)
 
                                     tolerance = 1.00 + 3.00% of 2.5.72
                 2.5.72   2.5.72-mm1
    Theads         %CPU         %CPU    %diff         diff    tolerance
---------- ------------ ------------ -------- ------------ ------------
         1       53.32%       51.76%    -2.93        -1.56         2.60
        16       119.6%       86.11%   -28.00       -33.49         4.59  *
        64       37.23%       25.05%   -32.72       -12.18         2.12  *