How to use "noatime" option in linux ext3 filesystem for better performance of I/O

use the 'noatime' option:

• Edit the file '/etc/fstab'
• Add the option 'noatime', separated with a comma, to the fourth field of every disk based filesystem entry
• Save the file and reboot (or remount all the filesystems corresponding to the modified entries (using the command: mount -o remount ))

Most Linux desktop and server is hurt by a noticeable IO performance slowdown due
to the constant atime updates, while there's just two or three real users of it:
tmpwatch [which can be configured to use ctime so it's not a big issue]
and some backup tools.
and mail-notify.

Example 
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0
/dev/md0 /boot ext3 defaults 0 0
/dev/md1 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/md2 / ext3 defaults,noatime 0 0


Also in addition to this

if you put your swap partition at the beginning of the drive it will give some improvement.
The beginning of the drive is physically located on the outer portion of the  cylinder, and the read/write head can cover
much more ground per revolution.
You can check that with /sbin/hdparm -t /dev/sda1 or sda2 etc etc command.