I can confim your info dilettante, it looks like a single core cpus and non intel cpus should still work via:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0

source: http://www.liutilities.com/products/.../tweaks/10019/

I didn't think of dual cpu systems i.e 8 core+ systems, even so they would most probably include 2x the same cpu, so I should be ok on that issue.

VBClassicRocks, the problem I have is that on my machine when I run that code I get:
Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
Description: x86 Family 6 Model 23 Stepping 7
Name: Intel Pentium III Xeon processor
Speed: 2333

Where as from the registry I get the correct CPU name: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz