If Intel makes two different (same speed) cpu's, then they'll designate one with a suffix...
P4-1.8 = Willamette core
P4-1.8a = Northwood core
P4-2.2 = Northwood core. (No
"a", because there is no other 2.2ghz cpu from Intel.)
Same goes with ones that run on different FSB's...
P4-2.4 = Northwood, 400mhz FSB
P4-2.4b = Northwood, 533mhz FSB
P4-2.53 = Northwood, 533mhz FSB (No
"b", because there is no 2.53ghz that runs on a 400mhz FSB.)
Did all of that make sense?