[Richard Clark]

I have a G4/450 DVD RAM drive.

In order for DVDs to play on my T.V. it looks like a video card with an S Vido outlet is needed? So that would mean an ATI Radeon or Nvidia G Force?? Or is there another alternative?

Also if connected up to S video is there extra steps needed to hook up or software settings?

What about regarding sound from the DVD? Should a sound blaster card be purchased as well?

If the video card is the way to go it will help out in a couple of different ways. The quality of images will improve, games will be better, and it will allow me to have two monitors hooked up to the system since there will be the primary video card that came with the system. I'll be able to use my son's monitor for the second (palletes etc) Two monitors is better than one!

Last but not least I have a cam corder that has S video. Would I be able to download my videos to the HD and use iMovie to edit?

Any recommendations, tips or tricks would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[mememe]

Well your G4/450 came with a Rage 128 correct?
Also, is this card in the AGP slot?

If so than if you were to purchase a RADEON and keep the 128 you would need to get a PCI RADEON version.

I don't know about you but i would be annoyed to have the faster card in the slower (PCI) slot.

This is the problem i ran into, finall i decided to get a radeon AGP and sell the rage 128 and I got a rage PCI, lost a bit more $ than doing it the other way, but at least the RADEON is in the AGP slot

well good luck

[Paul S]

You could also go the route of an external scan converter like the TView line from Focus Enhancements (www.focusinfo.com) for your video out. It won't give you dual monitors so it might not be your best choice.

For sound, just get an adapter to hook up to your speaker out port that will convert to left/right RCA plugs. If you already have speakers hooked up, get a splitter too. Both should be readily available at a Radio Shack type store.

As for your iMovie question, you will have a problem. iMovie only recognized FireWire inputs. It simply won't see your S-Video camcorder. Your only hope there is a FW - Analog converter like the Sony Media Converter or the Dazzle Hollywood DV. Both of those are in the $300 range.