different families of microprocessors?
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Here's a great article from wikipedia: \nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor
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Basically, Celeron this the cheap-ass processor.  Celerons are the lowest of the low with slow speeds, higher crash rates, and basically only enough power for a user of only e-mail, internet surfing, and pinball...nevermind high-graphic games like Quake 4 or Sims 2.  Centrino processors are built specifically for laptop computers so they are great on power consumption and heat (or, less heat, for that matter).  The Centrino processors also have WiFi capabilities (wireless interet/networking, as long as you have a router at home or are in a WiFi-enabled building (e.g., certain Starbucks coffeeshops).  Go with Centrino, my friend!, hands down.
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I am not sure if there is a list somewhere but if you use my two sources below, you can get a general idea of the performance of a wide variety of computer brands. These can help sort out some bad apples and easily gives you some nice compliments for each brand reviewed.
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Core 2 Duo is the latest Intel processor family, It is almost like having two processors working simultaneously, so when you are running two programmes your laptop will process the information quicker than Pentium and Centrino with similar spec.
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You would be able to know using the processor model number (not speed).
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http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html
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http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/microprocessor.html\n\nhttp://www.webopedia.com/TERM/m/microprocessor.html\n\nhttp://www.pctechguide.com/21Architecture.htm\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor
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a dual core processor is a cpu that has 2 processing cores (the actual cpus) in one package (the whole cpu assembly) Both cores will run at 3.4ghz (your example) not at 1.7 like one poster stated that is totally false. The AMD Athlon X2's some Opterons and the Intel Pentium D and Core Duo's are dual core cpu's. I also recommend AMD and Intel's websites they explain it pretty well for everyone to understand.
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The Intel 4004 \n\nIntel 4004 - The Chip \n\nThe 4004 was the world's first universal microprocessor. In the late 1960s, many scientists had discussed the possibility of a computer on a chip, but nearly everyone felt that integrated circuit technology was not yet ready to support such a chip. Intel's Ted Hoff felt differently; he was the first person to recognize that the new silicon-gated MOS technology might make a single-chip CPU (central processing unit) possible. \n\nHoff and the Intel team developed such an architecture with just over 2,300 transistors in an area of only 3 by 4 millimetres. With its 4-bit CPU, command register, decoder, decoding control, control monitoring of machine commands and interim register, the 4004 was one heck of a little invention. Today's 64-bit microprocessors are still based on similar designs, and the microprocessor is still the most complex mass-produced product ever with more than 5.5 million transistors performing hundreds of millions of calculations each second - numbers that are sure to be outdated fast. \n\nThe Pioneer 10 spacecraft used the 4004 microprocessor. It was launched on March 2, 1972 and was the first spacecraft and microprocessor to enter the Asteroid Belt.
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The computers microprocessor is its "brain".Its job is to do matemathical (3+9*85+*6) and logical (xor, and , or etc.) operations.Well the first computer ENIAC was used to do sums, i believe that was "it's original purpose".People often refer to the microproceesor as CPU, wich means Central Processing Unit.There a large variety of processors and processor brands, but the 2 most renowed types are Intel and Motorola.Intel (and AMD) Cpu's are used in pc's and Motorola's are used In Apple Machintosh systems(although apple is moving to the Intel platform).Intel based CPU's include the older 286, 386, 486 ,Pentium,Duron,Athlon,etc.The Intel 32 bit platdorm is also refered to as x86(because of the 86 at the end of the cpus codename).Now we are experincing the ascension of the x64 platform (64 bits) with cpus such as AMD Athlon64 and Intel Itanium.
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Here is the list\n\nDesktop\nAMD Athlon™ 64 FX Processor \nAMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor \nAMD Athlon™ 64 Processor \nAMD Sempron™ Processor \n\nMobile\nMobile AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology \nMobile AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor \nMobile AMD Sempron™ Processor \n\nWorkstation\nSingle and Dual-Core AMD Opteron™ Processors \n\nhttp://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9331_12862%5e13301,00.html?redir=CPGWV01\n\nBut if you want more performance, you might try Windows XP Professional 64 instead.  Wait until you see Test Results. \n\nhttp://www.amdboard.com/windows_xp_64bit.html
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Check this stuff out, should prove helpful.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_design\nhttp://scs.une.edu.au/EDIT312/competencies/Resources/BasicOps/CPU.html\nhttp://www.answers.com/topic/cpu-design
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CPU's - Central processing units\nGPU's  - Graphics Processing Units
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As far as servers are concerned, yes.  I know that the AMD Opterons are.  However for desktop processors the Intel Core Duo which has made its debut in the Intel iMacs and MacBook Pro are dual core but are not 64-bit processors.\n\nIf you are getting servers, do with an AMD Opteron.
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Right click on my computer and click properties to get the processor type and model. Then go online and find out from the vendor site(intel or amd). and moreover u need to find out if the new processsor takes same voltage more or less and other compatibilities.
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AMD, Intel, Mac, and Other.
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do a yahoo or google search on the subject because it depends on who manufactured the pc,mobo,etc.