Fastest possible processor for HP Compaq 8000 Elite?

[SDH]

Those processors rang a bell.... this is from the same generation as the xw4600.... which came after the xw6600 and before the first generation of the Z400/Z600 series.  I've worked on these workstations from the xw6400 forwards.

Taking the motherboard out of a HP workstation and adding a newer motherboard from a workstation that looks similar usually does not work.  My one success with that was converting a xw4600 workstation to run with a Z400 version 2 motherboard.  It just was not worth the hassle.... each is pretty much a custom design.

I'm assuming by your current box that you enjoy stretching your computer dollar.  My advice:  fast and cheapest excellent replacement will be a Z400 v2 workstation (which has 6 instead of 4 memory slots) with a X5690 processor and all 6 memory slots filled with 4GB sticks of proper matching HP RAM.  Even better would be a Z420 v2 workstation (2013 boot block date), with one of the fast V2 processors that can run the 1866 memory.  The processor for that and the Z620 v2 I am working with is close to $200.00 USD used but for a budget build I'd drop down to the 50.00 one, the E5-1620 V2 with sSpec code SR1AR, which can run that fast HP memory.  This is all used, off eBay.

[kb8srx]

I am curious how you upgraded the graphics cards, I have 3 HP 8000 elites and none of them have a slot for them ? am I missing something

[kb8srx]

and how exactly did you get it to accept 16Gb of Memory?  Ive tried it simply wont use it if you put it in there