NXT 1.5 does not use a bluebird 1 cpu, uses a bluebird 2 cpu on a bb1 cabinet, that is why it is called a 1.5.
The games that use cpunxt2 OS (SSG os types) are going to run slow on all bb1 cpu's, that is just the nature of the beast. The Green BB1's are faster than the blue BB1 mpu boards.
If you mean REALLY slow as in unplayable, then you probably have another issue at hand. Are you trying different MPU's in the same cabinet and one particular MPU seems to be fine?
Try a game that is using a CPUNXT OS (SSOS family games) see how it works.
Also make sure the bb1 mpu's have 512MB of RAM.