New installation of v4.0.19 felt pretty fast (with whatever default settings), I couldn't notice anything in particular. By slow, what did you mean?
Still going through the process of updating files that couldn't be updated.
EDIT: How are you quantifying the difference in speed? The new installation with one skin loaded up pretty much instantly for me. Maybe clear templates_c?
EDIT: woohoo, got one of my wishes granted by X-Cart, they upgraded USPS to V2