If I have two processors (Intel Core Duo) and under Device Manager (Windows XP) under Processors it lists two "Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5270 @ 1.40GHz."
Does that mean my total processor speed is 2.80GHz? Or is it both that equal 1.40?
Thanks

That means that the processor runs at 1.4 ghz. Each core runs at 1.4 ghz.

So because I have two processors I still have 1.4? Is that what you're saying?

Each core runs at the speed of the processor they just run independently. Maybe this will help you understand: multi-core processor.

You physically (in terms of hardware) only have one processor. But this particular processor has two cores that are designed to function somewhat independently. The operating system (Windows) sees, uses, and reports these two cores as separate processors. The processor still operates at 1.40GHz. But because you have two cores sharing the load, they can do a lot more work than a single core running at 1.40GHz. But the software must be able to use more than one processor or core too, in order to take advantage of both. And because Windows XP is designed to support multiple processors (or cores), your system runs much faster overall than it would with a single core, and for some tasks, faster than a single core that runs faster then 1.4GHz.

So while 1.4GHz may not sound fast, a dual core 1.4GHz is still a powerful CPU.

OK, that makes sense.
Thanks to both of you

I didn't quite know how to put the explanation into layman's terms.:-/ Today's processors are much more powerful than the p4's or celerons that ran at 3 to even 4ghz (even if they technically run at about only half the speed) because they are so much more efficient. That and they can have a larger cache. Multi-core processors where such a good idea. Todays PCs are kind of like the servers of previous generations because multi-cores processors emulate having more than one processor (provided the OS supports multiple processors) and servers typically have multiple physical processors. Today's servers (and especially Super computers) now are even more powerful because they can have multiple multi-core processors.Think about today's supercomputers. According to specs, Cray's current lines of supercomputers has the following CPU configuration:

XT6 and XT6m: Eight or 12-core 64-bit AMD Opteron 6000 series processors; up to 192 per cabinet
XT5 and XT5m: Quad or six-core AMD Opteron 2000 series processors; up to 192 per cabinet

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