ok this is how i understand it. for example: in a ps3 it has 7 3.2 ghz processors. now all these processors do have specific functions with-in a certain parameter. ie. physics calcuations and such allowing for more realistic actions such as a leaf blowing in the wind or a sniper bullet (call of duty 4) having a trajectory based on many variables. now, though the processors would be a total of 22.4ghz they actually run faster than that because they each perform speciaized functions. now the tricky part. they do theoretically run faster than 22.4ghz but in all actuality they will never operate at optimal speed. because of slight variations in clock speed (by minute amounts) they dont all run exactly the same. therefore, each processor is always waiting for the other processors to finish calculations in order to move on to the next equation. so the total is in fact 22.4ghz but the specs are for each processor ( 7 3.2ghz processors). hope this answers your question.