Question about minimig,VGA, and NTSC

[Matt_H]

Minimig uses a VGA port to be able to connect standard modern monitors. As FaLLeNOnE says, you can set it to either use a 15KHz mode (in which it functions just like the Amiga's 23-pin video port, except in a 15-pin form factor; you'll need a rare 15KHz-capable VGA monitor to use this setting) or 31KHz mode (which functions like a scandoubler plugged into the Amiga's 23-pin port; most modern monitors will work with this setting).

To use Amiga PAL modes, your monitor needs to be capable of displaying 50Hz signals. Many LCD screens these days don't go below 56Hz, so check the specifications before you buy.

[Matt_H]

Note that if you're getting output from the VGA port in 31KHz mode it won't be a "true" NTSC signal in that it won't work with professional NTSC video equipment. But Amiga NTSC software will work fine. As will PAL. Amigas can switch between PAL and NTSC in software, and I think the Minimig has its own setting to change the default. Not sure though.

An FPGA core is essentially the firmware, except it's loaded in at each power-on, rather than stored in Flash or ROM. An Amiga core will make the device an Amiga. A C64 core will make the device a C64. It's more low-level than a kernal, since a core is a full hardware emulation rather than OS software code.