ZCAT xxx.Z|tar -xvf - decompression slow ?

I have recently built a new server and patched Soalris 10 up tp latest bundle etc...
When I run a decompress using the format zcat fred.Z |tar -xvf - it runs at a very slow rate.
A similiar server which is less powerful runs over twice as quick.
Is there any work arounds to configure decompress ?

I know I can try other forms of compression/de-compression but a quick fix to getting this working correctly would be helpful.

I have heard might be some kernal parameters to change ?

thanks

Sparc or x86?
There is a known performance issue with Solaris x86 on HP Gen8 servers.

SPARC 64
I have another server v880 on soalris 10 working fine this is a T2000 if that makes the difference.
cheers

A T2000 operating at 1 GHz runs the CPU at 0.5 GHz.
So it should be a factor 2-3 slower than a V880.
The power of the T2000 (Niagara architecture) is: it can run more of these jobs simultaneously without noticeable speed reduction.
The T5 successors have higher GHz or "single-thread performance", and the memory interface is better, too.

The T2000 has 2cpu's ( 8 core ) the v880 has 6 cpu's each with 2 cores so the cpu's makes the difference not the cores ?
Do you know of any tunable parameters to kernal etc to tune this T2000 ?