diff --git a/3rdparty/wxWidgets/src/common/string.cpp b/3rdparty/wxWidgets/src/common/string.cpp
index 58d39955f..0a70bed06 100644
--- a/3rdparty/wxWidgets/src/common/string.cpp
+++ b/3rdparty/wxWidgets/src/common/string.cpp
@@ -1970,8 +1970,17 @@ int wxString::PrintfV(const wxChar* pszFormat, va_list argptr)
     }
 
     // we could have overshot
-    Shrink();
+    // PCSX2: And we could have 4gb of ram and not really give a hoot if we overshoot
+    // the length of a temporary string by 0.5kb, which itself will likely be free'd a few
+    // instructions later.  Also, this defeats the purpose of even using the 1kb "overshot"
+    // starting buffer size at the top of the function.  Ideally if you are really concerned
+    // about memory, the 1024 should be a 512, and this should only shrink if the allocated
+    // length of the string is more than 128 bytes past the end of the actual string content.
+    //  -- Jake Stine (air)
 
+	//if( capacity() - 128 >= length() )		// this line added by air, as proposed above.
+    //	Shrink();
+    
     return length();
 }
 
diff --git a/clean_msvc.cmd b/clean_msvc.cmd
index 18876bdca..9bee5cab6 100644
--- a/clean_msvc.cmd
+++ b/clean_msvc.cmd
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 :: application debugging (however these files are by no means required by any software).
 
 del /s "%~dp0\*.ncb"
-del /s "%~dp0\*.ilk"
+del /s "%~dp0\bin\*.ilk"
 del /s "%~dp0\*.idb"
 del /s "%~dp0\*.bsc"
 del /s "%~dp0\*.sbr"
diff --git a/common/build/Utilities/Utilities.cbp b/common/build/Utilities/Utilities.cbp
index 960fa125a..78afe01da 100644
--- a/common/build/Utilities/Utilities.cbp
+++ b/common/build/Utilities/Utilities.cbp
@@ -58,7 +58,17 @@
 			</Target>
 		</Build>
 		<Compiler>
-			<Add option="-march=native" />
+			<Add option="-march=i486" />
+			<Add option="-Wno-format" />
+			<Add option="-Wno-unused-parameter" />
+			<Add option="-Wno-unused-value" />
+			<Add option="-Wunused-variable" />
+			<Add option="-fno-guess-branch-probability" />
+			<Add option="-fno-dse" />
+			<Add option="-fno-tree-dse" />
+			<Add option="-pipe -msse -msse2" />
+			<Add option="-mpreferred-stack-boundary=2" />
+			<Add option="-m32" />
 			<Add directory="../../include/Utilities" />
 			<Add directory="../../include" />
 			<Add directory="../../../3rdparty" />
diff --git a/common/build/x86emitter/x86emitter.cbp b/common/build/x86emitter/x86emitter.cbp
index 5e4039a55..7ff25bc07 100644
--- a/common/build/x86emitter/x86emitter.cbp
+++ b/common/build/x86emitter/x86emitter.cbp
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 			</Target>
 		</Build>
 		<Compiler>
+			<Add option="-march=i486" />
 			<Add option="-Wno-format" />
 			<Add option="-Wno-unused-parameter" />
 			<Add option="-Wno-unused-value" />
@@ -67,6 +68,8 @@
 			<Add option="-fno-dse" />
 			<Add option="-fno-tree-dse" />
 			<Add option="-pipe -msse -msse2" />
+			<Add option="-mpreferred-stack-boundary=2" />
+			<Add option="-m32" />
 			<Add directory="../../include/x86emitter" />
 			<Add directory="../../include" />
 		</Compiler>
diff --git a/common/include/Pcsx2Defs.h b/common/include/Pcsx2Defs.h
index 5cd4e4686..818d1e3d4 100644
--- a/common/include/Pcsx2Defs.h
+++ b/common/include/Pcsx2Defs.h
@@ -189,7 +189,6 @@
 #	define PCSX2_ALIGNED16_EXTERN(x)	extern __declspec(align(16)) x
 
 #	define __naked			__declspec(naked)
-#	define __unused			/*unused*/
 #	define __noinline		__declspec(noinline)
 #	define __threadlocal	__declspec(thread)
 
@@ -244,7 +243,6 @@ This theoretically unoptimizes. Not having much luck so far.
 // happens *by design* like all the friggen time >_<)
 
 #	define __fastcall		__attribute__((fastcall))
-#	define __unused			__attribute__((unused))
 #	define _inline			__inline__ __attribute__((unused))
 #	ifdef NDEBUG
 #		define __forceinline	__attribute__((always_inline,unused))
diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/Console.h b/common/include/Utilities/Console.h
index 2d5386f32..f9d03e035 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/Console.h
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/Console.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 enum ConsoleColors
 {
+	Color_Current = -1,
+
 	Color_Black = 0,
 	Color_Red,
 	Color_Green,
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ enum ConsoleColors
 	Color_Blue,
 	Color_Magenta,
 	Color_Cyan,
-	Color_White
+	Color_White,
 };
 
 // Use fastcall for the console; should be helpful in most cases
diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h b/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
index 07a7d5717..9c18e7f7f 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ namespace Threading
 	// For use in spin/wait loops.
 	extern void SpinWait();
 
+	// Optional implementation to enable hires thread/process scheduler for the operating system.
+	// Needed by Windows, but might not be relevant to other platforms.
+	extern void EnableHiresScheduler();
+	extern void DisableHiresScheduler();
+
 	// sleeps the current thread for the given number of milliseconds.
 	extern void Sleep( int ms );
 
@@ -314,7 +319,7 @@ namespace Threading
 		// Section of methods for internal use only.
 
 		void _DoSetThreadName( const wxString& name );
-		void _DoSetThreadName( __unused const char* name );
+		void _DoSetThreadName( const char* name );
 		void _internal_execute();
 		void _try_virtual_invoke( void (PersistentThread::*method)() );
 		void _ThreadCleanup();
diff --git a/common/include/x86emitter/implement/dwshift.h b/common/include/x86emitter/implement/dwshift.h
index 427b7c551..1b582ba36 100644
--- a/common/include/x86emitter/implement/dwshift.h
+++ b/common/include/x86emitter/implement/dwshift.h
@@ -32,17 +32,17 @@ class DwordShiftImplAll
 
 public:
 	// ---------- 32 Bit Interface -----------
-	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister32& to,	const xRegister32& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
-	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister32& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
-	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister32& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister32& to,	const xRegister32& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister32& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister32& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister32& to,	const xRegister32& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0xa4 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister32& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0xa4 | m_shiftop, from, dest, shiftcnt ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister32& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0xa4 | m_shiftop, from, dest, shiftcnt ); }
 
 	// ---------- 16 Bit Interface -----------
-	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister16& to,	const xRegister16& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
-	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister16& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
-	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister16& from, __unused const xRegisterCL& clreg ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister16& to,	const xRegister16& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister16& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
+	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister16& from, const xRegisterCL& /* clreg */ ) const	{ xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa5 | m_shiftop, from, dest ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( const xRegister16& to,	const xRegister16& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa4 | m_shiftop, to, from ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( void* dest,				const xRegister16& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa4 | m_shiftop, from, dest, shiftcnt ); }
 	__forceinline void operator()( const ModSibBase& dest,	const xRegister16& from, u8 shiftcnt ) const						{ if( shiftcnt != 0 ) xOpWrite0F( 0x66, 0xa4 | m_shiftop, from, dest, shiftcnt ); }
diff --git a/common/include/x86emitter/implement/group2.h b/common/include/x86emitter/implement/group2.h
index 57506a232..b445bd2fb 100644
--- a/common/include/x86emitter/implement/group2.h
+++ b/common/include/x86emitter/implement/group2.h
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ template< G2Type InstType >
 class Group2ImplAll
 {
 public:
-	template< typename T > __forceinline void operator()( const xRegister<T>& to,		__unused const xRegisterCL& from ) const
+	template< typename T > __forceinline void operator()( const xRegister<T>& to,		const xRegisterCL& /* from */ ) const
 	{
 		prefix16<T>();
 		xWrite8( Is8BitOp<T>() ? 0xd2 : 0xd3 );
 		EmitSibMagic( InstType, to );
 	}
 
-	template< typename T > __noinline void operator()( const ModSibStrict<T>& sibdest,	__unused const xRegisterCL& from ) const
+	template< typename T > __noinline void operator()( const ModSibStrict<T>& sibdest,	const xRegisterCL& /* from */ ) const
 	{
 		prefix16<T>();
 		xWrite8( Is8BitOp<T>() ? 0xd2 : 0xd3 );
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxThreads.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxThreads.cpp
index 52a7af97f..4d6640f45 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxThreads.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxThreads.cpp
@@ -24,38 +24,44 @@
 
 static bool isMultiCore = true;		// assume more than one CPU (safer)
 
-namespace Threading
+// Note: Apparently this solution is Linux/Solaris only.
+// FreeBSD/OsX need something far more complicated (apparently)
+void Threading::CountLogicalCores( int LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU, int PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU )
 {
-	// Note: Apparently this solution is Linux/Solaris only.
-	// FreeBSD/OsX need something far more complicated (apparently)
-	void CountLogicalCores( int LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU, int PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU )
+	const uint numCPU = sysconf( _SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN );
+	if( numCPU > 0 )
 	{
-		const uint numCPU = sysconf( _SC_NPROCESSORS_ONLN );
-		if( numCPU > 0 )
-		{
-			isMultiCore = numCPU > 1;
-			x86caps.LogicalCores = numCPU;
-			x86caps.PhysicalCores = ( numCPU / LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU ) * PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			// Indeterminate?
-			x86caps.LogicalCores = 1;
-			x86caps.PhysicalCores = 1;
-		}
+		isMultiCore = numCPU > 1;
+		x86caps.LogicalCores = numCPU;
+		x86caps.PhysicalCores = ( numCPU / LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU ) * PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU;
 	}
-
-	__forceinline void Sleep( int ms )
+	else
 	{
-		usleep( 1000*ms );
-	}
-
-	// For use in spin/wait loops,  Acts as a hint to Intel CPUs and should, in theory
-	// improve performance and reduce cpu power consumption.
-	__forceinline void SpinWait()
-	{
-		// If this doesn't compile you can just comment it out (it only serves as a
-		// performance hint and isn't required).
-		__asm__ ( "pause" );
+		// Indeterminate?
+		x86caps.LogicalCores = 1;
+		x86caps.PhysicalCores = 1;
 	}
 }
+
+__forceinline void Threading::Sleep( int ms )
+{
+	usleep( 1000*ms );
+}
+
+// For use in spin/wait loops,  Acts as a hint to Intel CPUs and should, in theory
+// improve performance and reduce cpu power consumption.
+__forceinline void Threading::SpinWait()
+{
+	// If this doesn't compile you can just comment it out (it only serves as a
+	// performance hint and isn't required).
+	__asm__ ( "pause" );
+}
+
+__forceinline void Threading::EnableHiresScheduler()
+{
+	// Don't know if linux has a customizable scheduler resolution like Windows (doubtful)
+}
+
+__forceinline void Threading::DisableHiresScheduler()
+{
+}
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
index db4a9c246..8ace152ee 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ void Threading::PersistentThread::Start()
 
 	if( pthread_create( &m_thread, NULL, _internal_callback, this ) != 0 )
 		throw Exception::ThreadCreationError();
-
-	m_detached = false;
 }
 
 // Returns: TRUE if the detachment was performed, or FALSE if the thread was
@@ -384,7 +382,8 @@ wxString Threading::PersistentThread::GetName() const
 // private member, and provide a new Task executor by a different name).
 void Threading::PersistentThread::OnStartInThread()
 {
-	m_running = true;
+	m_running	= true;
+	m_detached	= false;
 }
 
 void Threading::PersistentThread::_internal_execute()
@@ -426,7 +425,7 @@ void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( const wxString& name )
 	_DoSetThreadName( name.ToUTF8() );
 }
 
-void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( __unused const char* name )
+void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( const char* name )
 {
 	pxAssertMsg( IsSelf(), "Thread affinity error." );	// only allowed from our own thread, thanks.
 
@@ -435,7 +434,7 @@ void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( __unused const char* name )
 #if defined(_WINDOWS_) && defined (_MSC_VER)
 
 	// This code sample was borrowed form some obscure MSDN article.
-	// In a rare bout of sanity, it's an actual Micrsoft-published hack
+	// In a rare bout of sanity, it's an actual Microsoft-published hack
 	// that actually works!
 
 	static const int MS_VC_EXCEPTION = 0x406D1388;
@@ -443,10 +442,10 @@ void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( __unused const char* name )
 	#pragma pack(push,8)
 	struct THREADNAME_INFO
 	{
-		DWORD dwType; // Must be 0x1000.
-		LPCSTR szName; // Pointer to name (in user addr space).
-		DWORD dwThreadID; // Thread ID (-1=caller thread).
-		DWORD dwFlags; // Reserved for future use, must be zero.
+		DWORD dwType;		// Must be 0x1000.
+		LPCSTR szName;		// Pointer to name (in user addr space).
+		DWORD dwThreadID;	// Thread ID (-1=caller thread).
+		DWORD dwFlags;		// Reserved for future use, must be zero.
 	};
 	#pragma pack(pop)
 
@@ -456,13 +455,9 @@ void Threading::PersistentThread::_DoSetThreadName( __unused const char* name )
 	info.dwThreadID	= GetCurrentThreadId();
 	info.dwFlags	= 0;
 
-	__try
-	{
+	__try {
 		RaiseException( MS_VC_EXCEPTION, 0, sizeof(info)/sizeof(ULONG_PTR), (ULONG_PTR*)&info );
-	}
-	__except(EXCEPTION_EXECUTE_HANDLER)
-	{
-	}
+	} __except(EXCEPTION_EXECUTE_HANDLER) { }
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/Windows/WinThreads.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/Windows/WinThreads.cpp
index e4961999c..8f8603f74 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/Windows/WinThreads.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/Windows/WinThreads.cpp
@@ -22,45 +22,58 @@
 #include "implement.h"		// win32 pthreads implementations.
 #endif
 
-namespace Threading
+void Threading::CountLogicalCores( int LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU, int PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU )
 {
-	void CountLogicalCores( int LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU, int PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU )
+	DWORD vProcessCPUs;
+	DWORD vSystemCPUs;
+
+	x86caps.LogicalCores = 1;
+
+	if( !GetProcessAffinityMask (GetCurrentProcess (),
+		&vProcessCPUs, &vSystemCPUs) ) return;
+
+	int CPUs = 0;
+	DWORD bit;
+
+	for (bit = 1; bit != 0; bit <<= 1)
 	{
-		DWORD vProcessCPUs;
-		DWORD vSystemCPUs;
-
-		x86caps.LogicalCores = 1;
-
-		if( !GetProcessAffinityMask (GetCurrentProcess (),
-			&vProcessCPUs, &vSystemCPUs) ) return;
-
-		int CPUs = 0;
-		DWORD bit;
-
-		for (bit = 1; bit != 0; bit <<= 1)
-		{
-			if (vSystemCPUs & bit)
-				CPUs++;
-		}
-
-		x86caps.LogicalCores = CPUs;
-		if( LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU > CPUs) // for 1-socket HTT-disabled machines
-			LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU = CPUs;
-
-		x86caps.PhysicalCores = ( CPUs / LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU ) * PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU;
-		//ptw32_smp_system = ( x86caps.LogicalCores > 1 ) ? TRUE : FALSE;
+		if (vSystemCPUs & bit)
+			CPUs++;
 	}
 
-	__forceinline void Sleep( int ms )
-	{
-		::Sleep( ms );
-	}
+	x86caps.LogicalCores = CPUs;
+	if( LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU > CPUs) // for 1-socket HTT-disabled machines
+		LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU = CPUs;
 
-	// For use in spin/wait loops,  Acts as a hint to Intel CPUs and should, in theory
-	// improve performance and reduce cpu power consumption.
-	__forceinline void SpinWait()
-	{
-		__asm { pause };
-	}
+	x86caps.PhysicalCores = ( CPUs / LogicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU ) * PhysicalCoresPerPhysicalCPU;
+	//ptw32_smp_system = ( x86caps.LogicalCores > 1 ) ? TRUE : FALSE;
+}
+
+__forceinline void Threading::Sleep( int ms )
+{
+	::Sleep( ms );
+}
+
+// For use in spin/wait loops,  Acts as a hint to Intel CPUs and should, in theory
+// improve performance and reduce cpu power consumption.
+__forceinline void Threading::SpinWait()
+{
+	__asm pause;
+}
+
+__forceinline void Threading::EnableHiresScheduler()
+{
+	// This improves accuracy of Sleep() by some amount, and only adds a negligable amount of
+	// overhead on modern CPUs.  Typically desktops are already set pretty low, but laptops in
+	// particular may have a scheduler Period of 15 or 20ms to extend battery life.
+	
+	// (note: this same trick is used by most multimedia software and games)
+
+	timeBeginPeriod( 1 );
+}
+
+__forceinline void Threading::DisableHiresScheduler()
+{
+	timeEndPeriod( 1 );
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD_internal.h b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD_internal.h
index f77c4c6b0..207d4a25f 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD_internal.h
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD_internal.h
@@ -129,9 +129,9 @@ static const uint PSX_DVD_READSPEED = 1382400 + 256000; // normal is 1 Byte Time
 static const uint Cdvd_FullSeek_Cycles = (PSXCLK*100) / 1000;		// average number of cycles per fullseek (100ms)
 static const uint Cdvd_FastSeek_Cycles = (PSXCLK*30) / 1000;		// average number of cycles per fastseek (37ms)
 
-static const __unused char *mg_zones[8] = {"Japan", "USA", "Europe", "Oceania", "Asia", "Russia", "China", "Mexico"};
+static const char *mg_zones[8] = {"Japan", "USA", "Europe", "Oceania", "Asia", "Russia", "China", "Mexico"};
 
-static const __unused char *nCmdName[0x100]= {
+static const char *nCmdName[0x100]= {
 	"CdSync", 
 	"CdNop", 
 	"CdStandby", 
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ enum nCmds
 	N_CD_CHG_SPDL_CTRL = 0x0F, // CdChgSpdlCtrl
 };
 
-static const __unused char *sCmdName[0x100]= {
+static const char *sCmdName[0x100]= {
 	"", "sceCdGetDiscType", "sceCdReadSubQ", "subcommands",//sceCdGetMecaconVersion, read/write console id, read renewal date
 	"", "sceCdTrayState", "sceCdTrayCtrl", "",
 	"sceCdReadClock", "sceCdWriteClock", "sceCdReadNVM", "sceCdWriteNVM",
@@ -232,4 +232,4 @@ static NVMLayout nvmlayouts[NVM_FORMAT_MAX] =
 	{0x146,  0x270, 0x2B0, 0x200, 0x1C8, 0x1E0, 0x1B0, 0x180, 0x198},	// eeproms from bios v1.70 and up
 };
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
index fc3756abf..e2e7bcd9e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ s32 CALLBACK NODISCdummyS32()
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void CALLBACK NODISCnewDiskCB(__unused void (*callback)())
+void CALLBACK NODISCnewDiskCB(void (* /* callback */)())
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
index 6510015f9..beabdc1e1 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ s32 CALLBACK ISOdummyS32()
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void CALLBACK ISOnewDiskCB(__unused void(*callback)())
+void CALLBACK ISOnewDiskCB(void(* /* callback */)())
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/Counters.cpp b/pcsx2/Counters.cpp
index 5d0db5fdb..c8042b2fc 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Counters.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Counters.cpp
@@ -322,12 +322,21 @@ static __forceinline void frameLimit()
 
 	m_iStart = uExpectedEnd;
 
-	while( sDeltaTime < 0 )
-	{
-		Timeslice();
-		iEnd = GetCPUTicks();
-		sDeltaTime = iEnd - uExpectedEnd;
-	}
+	// Shortcut for cases where no waiting is needed (they're running slow already,
+	// so don't bog 'em down with extra math...)
+	if( sDeltaTime >= 0 ) return;
+	
+	// If we're way ahead then we can afford to sleep the thread a bit.
+	// (note, sleep(1) thru sleep(2) tend to be the least accurate sleeps, and longer
+	// sleeps tend to be pretty reliable, so that's why the convoluted if/else below)
+
+	s32 msec = (int)((sDeltaTime*-1000) / (s64)GetTickFrequency());
+	if( msec > 4 ) Threading::Sleep( msec );
+	else if( msec > 2 ) Threading::Sleep( 1 );
+
+	// Sleep is not picture-perfect accurate, but it's actually not necessary to
+	// maintain a "perfect" lock to uExpectedEnd anyway.  if we're a little ahead
+	// starting this frame, it'll just sleep longer the next to make up for it. :)
 }
 
 static __forceinline void VSyncStart(u32 sCycle)
diff --git a/pcsx2/Gif.cpp b/pcsx2/Gif.cpp
index b6de30396..721a7c27a 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Gif.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Gif.cpp
@@ -30,15 +30,13 @@ using std::min;
 // A three-way toggle used to determine if the GIF is stalling (transferring) or done (finished).
 // Should be a gifstate_t rather then int, but I don't feel like possibly interfering with savestates right now.
 static int gifstate = GIF_STATE_READY;
+static bool gifempty = false;
 
-//static u64 s_gstag = 0; // used for querying the last tag
-
-// This should be a bool. Next time I feel like breaking the save state, it will be. --arcum42
 static bool gspath3done = false;
 
 static u32 gscycles = 0, prevcycles = 0, mfifocycles = 0;
 static u32 gifqwc = 0;
-bool gifmfifoirq = false;
+static bool gifmfifoirq = false;
 
 static __forceinline void clearFIFOstuff(bool full)
 {	
@@ -60,8 +58,9 @@ __forceinline void gsInterrupt()
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if ((vif1.cmd & 0x7f) == 0x51)
+	if ((vif1.cmd & 0x7f) == 0x51) // DIRECTHL
 	{
+	    // Not waiting for the end of the Gif transfer.
 		if (Path3progress != IMAGE_MODE) vif1Regs->stat.VGW = 0;
 	}
 
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ static __forceinline void GIFchain()
 
 static __forceinline bool checkTieBit(u32* &ptag)
 {
-	if (gif->chcr.TIE && (Tag::IRQ(ptag)))  //Check TIE bit of CHCR and IRQ bit of tag
+	if (gif->chcr.TIE && (Tag::IRQ(ptag)))
 	{
 		GIF_LOG("dmaIrq Set");
 		gspath3done = true;
@@ -151,28 +150,30 @@ static __forceinline bool checkTieBit(u32* &ptag)
 	return false;
 }
 
-static __forceinline bool ReadTag(u32* &ptag, u32 &id)
+static __forceinline u32* ReadTag(u32 &id)
 {
-	ptag = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->tadr);  //Set memory pointer to TADR
+	u32* ptag = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->tadr);  //Set memory pointer to TADR
+	
+	if (!(Tag::Transfer("Gif", gif, ptag))) return NULL;
 	
-	if (!(Tag::Transfer("Gif", gif, ptag))) return false;
 	gif->madr = ptag[1];				    //MADR = ADDR field
 		
-	id = Tag::Id(ptag);		//ID for DmaChain copied from bit 28 of the tag
+	id = Tag::Id(ptag);
 	gscycles += 2; // Add 1 cycles from the QW read for the tag
 			
 	gspath3done = hwDmacSrcChainWithStack(gif, id);
-	return true;
+	return ptag;
 }
 
-static __forceinline void ReadTag2(u32* &ptag)
+static __forceinline u32* ReadTag2()
 {
-	ptag = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->tadr);  //Set memory pointer to TADR
+	u32* ptag = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->tadr);  //Set memory pointer to TADR
 	
 	Tag::UnsafeTransfer(gif, ptag);
 	gif->madr = ptag[1];
 
 	gspath3done = hwDmacSrcChainWithStack(gif, Tag::Id(ptag));
+	return ptag;
 }
 
 void GIFdma() 
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ void GIFdma()
 	//Path2 gets priority in intermittent mode
 	if ((gifRegs->stat.P1Q || (vif1.cmd & 0x7f) == 0x50) && gifRegs->mode.IMT && (Path3progress == IMAGE_MODE)) 
 	{
+	    // We are in image mode doing DIRECTHL, Path 1 is in queue, and in intermittant mode.
 		GIF_LOG("Waiting VU %x, PATH2 %x, GIFMODE %x Progress %x", gifRegs->stat.P1Q, (vif1.cmd & 0x7f), gifRegs->mode._u32, Path3progress);
 		CPU_INT(2, 16);
 		return;
@@ -220,7 +222,8 @@ void GIFdma()
 		{
 			if ((gif->chcr.MOD == CHAIN_MODE) && gif->chcr.STR)
 			{
-				if (!ReadTag(ptag, id)) return;
+			    ptag = ReadTag(id);
+				if (ptag == NULL) return;
 				GIF_LOG("PTH3 MASK gifdmaChain %8.8x_%8.8x size=%d, id=%d, addr=%lx", ptag[1], ptag[0], gif->qwc, id, gif->madr);
 
 				//Check TIE bit of CHCR and IRQ bit of tag
@@ -257,7 +260,8 @@ void GIFdma()
 	
 	if ((gif->chcr.MOD == CHAIN_MODE) && (!gspath3done)) // Chain Mode
 	{
-		if (!ReadTag(ptag, id)) return;
+        ptag = ReadTag(id);
+        if (ptag == NULL) return;
 		GIF_LOG("gifdmaChain %8.8x_%8.8x size=%d, id=%d, addr=%lx", ptag[1], ptag[0], gif->qwc, id, gif->madr);
 
 		if (dmacRegs->ctrl.STD == STD_GIF)
@@ -312,7 +316,7 @@ void dmaGIF()
 	gspath3done = false; // For some reason this doesn't clear? So when the system starts the thread, we will clear it :)
 
 	gifRegs->stat.P3Q = 1;
-	gifRegs->stat.FQC |= 0x10;// FQC=31, hack ;) ( 31? 16! arcum42) [used to be 0xE00; // OPH=1 | APATH=3]
+	gifRegs->stat.FQC |= 0x10; // hack ;)
 
 	clearFIFOstuff(true);
 	
@@ -325,9 +329,7 @@ void dmaGIF()
 
 	if ((gif->qwc == 0) && (gif->chcr.MOD != NORMAL_MODE))
 	{
-		u32 *ptag;
-		
-		ReadTag2(ptag);
+		u32* ptag = ReadTag2();
 		GIF_LOG("gifdmaChain %8.8x_%8.8x size=%d, id=%d, addr=%lx", ptag[1], ptag[0], gif->qwc, (ptag[0] >> 28), gif->madr);
 
 		checkTieBit(ptag);
@@ -401,10 +403,12 @@ static __forceinline int mfifoGIFchain()
 	} 
 	else 
 	{
-		int mfifoqwc = gif->qwc;
+		int mfifoqwc;
+		
 		u32 *pMem = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->madr);
 		if (pMem == NULL) return -1;
-		mfifoqwc = WRITERING_DMA(pMem, mfifoqwc);
+		
+		mfifoqwc = WRITERING_DMA(pMem, gif->qwc);
 		mfifocycles += (mfifoqwc) * 2; /* guessing */
 	}
 
@@ -420,7 +424,6 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 {
 	u32 *ptag;
 	int id;
-	u32 temp = 0;
 	
 	mfifocycles = 0;
 	gifmfifoirq = false;
@@ -428,8 +431,11 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 	if(qwc > 0 ) 
 	{
 		gifqwc += qwc;
-		if (gifstate != GIF_STATE_EMPTY) return;
+		
+		if (!(gifstate & GIF_STATE_EMPTY)) return;
+		// if (gifempty == false) return;
 		gifstate &= ~GIF_STATE_EMPTY;
+		gifempty = false;
 	}
 	
 	GIF_LOG("mfifoGIFtransfer %x madr %x, tadr %x", gif->chcr._u32, gif->madr, gif->tadr);
@@ -440,13 +446,14 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 		{
 			//if( gifqwc > 1 ) DevCon.WriteLn("gif mfifo tadr==madr but qwc = %d", gifqwc);
 			hwDmacIrq(DMAC_MFIFO_EMPTY);
-			gifstate |= GIF_STATE_EMPTY;			
+			gifstate |= GIF_STATE_EMPTY;
+			gifempty = true;
 			return;
 		}
 		
 		gif->tadr = qwctag(gif->tadr);
+		
 		ptag = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(gif->tadr);
-			
 		Tag::UnsafeTransfer(gif, ptag);
 		
 		gif->madr = ptag[1];
@@ -472,11 +479,13 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 				break;
 
 			case TAG_NEXT: // Next - Transfer QWC following tag. TADR = ADDR
-				temp = gif->madr;								//Temporarily Store ADDR
+			{
+				u32 temp = gif->madr;								//Temporarily Store ADDR
 				gif->madr = qwctag(gif->tadr + 16); 					  //Set MADR to QW following the tag
 				gif->tadr = temp;								//Copy temporarily stored ADDR to Tag
 				gifstate = GIF_STATE_READY;
 				break;
+			}
 
 			case TAG_REF: // Ref - Transfer QWC from ADDR field
 			case TAG_REFS: // Refs - Transfer QWC from ADDR field (Stall Control) 
@@ -507,7 +516,7 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 	}
 	FreezeRegs(0); 
 		
-	if ((gif->qwc == 0) && (gifstate == GIF_STATE_DONE)) gifstate = GIF_STATE_STALL;
+	if ((gif->qwc == 0) && (gifstate & GIF_STATE_DONE)) gifstate = GIF_STATE_STALL;
 	CPU_INT(11,mfifocycles);
 		
 	SPR_LOG("mfifoGIFtransfer end %x madr %x, tadr %x", gif->chcr._u32, gif->madr, gif->tadr);	
@@ -515,6 +524,7 @@ void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc)
 
 void gifMFIFOInterrupt()
 {
+    Console.WriteLn("gifMFIFOInterrupt");
 	mfifocycles = 0;
 	
 	if (Path3progress == STOPPED_MODE)
@@ -543,13 +553,15 @@ void gifMFIFOInterrupt()
 		return;
 	}	
 	
-	if (gifstate != GIF_STATE_STALL) 
+	if (!(gifstate & GIF_STATE_STALL))
 	{
 		if (gifqwc <= 0) 
 		{
 			//Console.WriteLn("Empty");
 			hwDmacIrq(DMAC_MFIFO_EMPTY);
 			gifstate |= GIF_STATE_EMPTY;
+			gifempty = true;
+			
 			gifRegs->stat.IMT = 0;
 			return;
 		}
@@ -558,7 +570,7 @@ void gifMFIFOInterrupt()
 	}
 	
 #ifdef PCSX2_DEVBUILD
-	if (gifstate == GIF_STATE_READY || gif->qwc > 0) 
+	if ((gifstate & GIF_STATE_READY) || (gif->qwc > 0)) 
 	{
 		Console.Error("gifMFIFO Panic > Shouldn't go here!");
 		return;
@@ -587,6 +599,6 @@ void SaveStateBase::gifFreeze()
 	Freeze( gifqwc );
 	Freeze( gspath3done );
 	Freeze( gscycles );
-
+	//Freeze(gifempty);
 	// Note: mfifocycles is not a persistent var, so no need to save it here.
 }
diff --git a/pcsx2/Gif.h b/pcsx2/Gif.h
index aa6e47d11..3c7cfda38 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Gif.h
+++ b/pcsx2/Gif.h
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ enum gif_stat_flags
 	GIF_STAT_P2Q		= (1<<7),	// PATH2 request Queued
 	GIF_STAT_P1Q		= (1<<8),	// PATH1 request Queued
 	GIF_STAT_OPH		= (1<<9),	// Output Path (Outputting Data)
-	GIF_STAT_APATH1	= (1<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 1 (In progress)
-	GIF_STAT_APATH2	= (2<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 2 (In progress)
-	GIF_STAT_APATH3	= (3<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 3 (In progress) (Mask too)
+	GIF_STAT_APATH1		= (1<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 1 (In progress)
+	GIF_STAT_APATH2		= (2<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 2 (In progress)
+	GIF_STAT_APATH3		= (3<<10),	// Data Transfer Path 3 (In progress) (Mask too)
 	GIF_STAT_DIR		= (1<<12),	// Transfer Direction
 	GIF_STAT_FQC		= (31<<24)	// QWC in GIF-FIFO
 };
@@ -239,10 +239,10 @@ struct GIFregisters
 extern Path3Modes Path3progress;
 
 extern void gsInterrupt();
-int _GIFchain();
-void GIFdma();
-void dmaGIF();
-void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc);
-void gifMFIFOInterrupt();
+extern int _GIFchain();
+extern void GIFdma();
+extern void dmaGIF();
+extern void mfifoGIFtransfer(int qwc);
+extern void gifMFIFOInterrupt();
 
 #endif
diff --git a/pcsx2/IopHw.h b/pcsx2/IopHw.h
index 784e3d0e3..ef95fde6e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/IopHw.h
+++ b/pcsx2/IopHw.h
@@ -134,10 +134,21 @@ enum DMAChcrAddresses
 
 enum DMATadrAddresses
 {
+    HWx_DMA0_TADR  = 0x1f80108c,
+    HWx_DMA1_TADR  = 0x1f80109c,
     HWx_DMA2_TADR  = 0x1f8010ac,
+    HWx_DMA3_TADR  = 0x1f8010bc,
     HWx_DMA4_TADR  = 0x1f8010cc,
-    HWx_DMA9_TADR  = 0x1f80152c
+    HWx_DMA5_TADR  = 0x1f8010dc,
+    HWx_DMA6_TADR  = 0x1f8010ec,
+    HWx_DMA7_TADR  = 0x1f80150c,
+    HWx_DMA8_TADR  = 0x1f80151c,
+    HWx_DMA9_TADR  = 0x1f80152c,
+    HWx_DMA10_TADR = 0x1f80153c,
+    HWx_DMA11_TADR = 0x1f80154c,
+    HWx_DMA12_TADR = 0x1f80155c
 };
+
 /* Registers for the IOP Counters */
 enum IOPCountRegs
 {
diff --git a/pcsx2/Linux/pcsx2.cbp b/pcsx2/Linux/pcsx2.cbp
index 1888e8b58..9c461ca7b 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Linux/pcsx2.cbp
+++ b/pcsx2/Linux/pcsx2.cbp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 				<Option type="0" />
 				<Option compiler="gcc" />
 				<Compiler>
+					<Add option="-march=i486" />
 					<Add option="-g" />
 					<Add option="`wx-config  --version=2.8 --static=no --unicode=yes --debug=yes --cflags`" />
 					<Add option="-DPCSX2_DEVBUILD" />
@@ -96,7 +97,8 @@
 			<Add option="-fno-dse" />
 			<Add option="-fno-tree-dse" />
 			<Add option="-pipe -msse -msse2" />
-			<Add option="-march=native" />
+			<Add option="-mpreferred-stack-boundary=2" />
+			<Add option="-m32" />
 			<Add option="-DWX_PRECOMP" />
 			<Add directory="$(SvnRootDir)/common/include/" />
 			<Add directory="$(SvnRootDir)/3rdparty/" />
diff --git a/pcsx2/Memory.cpp b/pcsx2/Memory.cpp
index 8b53750a9..864d6216d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Memory.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Memory.cpp
@@ -130,28 +130,31 @@ void memMapVUmicro()
 	vtlb_MapHandler(vu0_micro_mem[CHECK_VU0REC ? 0 : 1],0x11000000,0x00004000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(vu1_micro_mem[CHECK_VU1REC ? 0 : 1],0x11008000,0x00004000);
 
+	// VU0/VU1 memory
+	// (Like IOP memory, these are generally only used by the EE Bios kernel during
+	//  boot-up.  Applications/games are "supposed" to use the thread-safe VIF
+	//  instead.)
 	vtlb_MapBlock(VU0.Mem,0x11004000,0x00004000,0x1000);
 	vtlb_MapBlock(VU1.Mem,0x1100c000,0x00004000);
 }
 
 void memMapPhy()
 {
-	//Main mem
-	vtlb_MapBlock(psM,0x00000000,Ps2MemSize::Base);//mirrored on first 256 mb ?
+	// Main memory
+	vtlb_MapBlock(psM,	0x00000000,Ps2MemSize::Base);//mirrored on first 256 mb ?
 
-	//Rom
-	vtlb_MapBlock(psR,0x1fc00000,Ps2MemSize::Rom);//Writable ?
-	//Rom 1
-	vtlb_MapBlock(psR1,0x1e000000,Ps2MemSize::Rom1);//Writable ?
-	//Rom 2 ?
-	vtlb_MapBlock(psR2,0x1e400000,Ps2MemSize::Rom2);//Writable ?
-	//EEProm ?
-	vtlb_MapBlock(psER,0x1e040000,Ps2MemSize::ERom);//Writable ?
+	// Various ROMs (all read-only)
+	vtlb_MapBlock(psR,	0x1fc00000,Ps2MemSize::Rom);
+	vtlb_MapBlock(psR1,	0x1e000000,Ps2MemSize::Rom1);
+	vtlb_MapBlock(psR2,	0x1e400000,Ps2MemSize::Rom2);
+	vtlb_MapBlock(psER,	0x1e040000,Ps2MemSize::ERom);
 
-	//IOP mem
+	// IOP memory
+	// (used by the EE Bios Kernel during initial hardware initialization, Apps/Games
+	//  are "supposed" to use the thread-safe SIF instead.)
 	vtlb_MapBlock(psxM,0x1c000000,0x00800000);
 
-	//These fallback to mem* stuff ...
+	// Generic Handlers; These fallback to mem* stuff...
 	vtlb_MapHandler(tlb_fallback_1,0x10000000,0x10000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(tlb_fallback_7,0x14000000,0x10000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(tlb_fallback_4,0x18000000,0x10000);
@@ -162,7 +165,8 @@ void memMapPhy()
 	vtlb_MapHandler(tlb_fallback_2,0x1f800000,0x10000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(tlb_fallback_8,0x1f900000,0x10000);
 
-	// map specific optimized page handlers for HW accesses
+	// Hardware Register Handlers : specialized/optimized per-page handling of HW register accesses
+	// (note that hw_by_page handles are assigned in memReset prior to calling this function)
 	vtlb_MapHandler(hw_by_page[0x0], 0x10000000, 0x01000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(hw_by_page[0x1], 0x10001000, 0x01000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(hw_by_page[0x2], 0x10002000, 0x01000);
@@ -177,6 +181,9 @@ void memMapPhy()
 
 	vtlb_MapHandler(gs_page_0, 0x12000000, 0x01000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(gs_page_1, 0x12001000, 0x01000);
+
+	// "Secret" IOP HW mappings - Used by EE Bios Kernel during boot and generally
+	// left untouched after that, as per EE/IOP thread safety rules.
 	
 	vtlb_MapHandler(hw_by_page[0x1], 0x1f801000, 0x01000);
 	vtlb_MapHandler(hw_by_page[0x3], 0x1f803000, 0x01000);
diff --git a/pcsx2/SPR.cpp b/pcsx2/SPR.cpp
index 1cac26802..50bdb0380 100644
--- a/pcsx2/SPR.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/SPR.cpp
@@ -66,14 +66,14 @@ int  _SPR0chain()
 			else 
 				mfifotransferred += spr0->qwc;
 			
-			hwMFIFOWrite(spr0->madr, (u8*)&PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff], spr0->qwc << 4);
+			hwMFIFOWrite(spr0->madr, &psSu8(spr0->sadr), spr0->qwc << 4);
 			spr0->madr += spr0->qwc << 4;
 			spr0->madr = dmacRegs->rbor.ADDR + (spr0->madr & dmacRegs->rbsr.RMSK);
 			break;
 			
 		case NO_MFD:
 		case MFD_RESERVED:
-			memcpy_fast((u8*)pMem, &PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff], spr0->qwc << 4);
+			memcpy_fast((u8*)pMem, &psSu8(spr0->sadr), spr0->qwc << 4);
 			
 			// clear VU mem also!
 			TestClearVUs(spr0->madr, spr0->qwc << 2); // Wtf is going on here? AFAIK, only VIF should affect VU micromem (cottonvibes)
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ void _SPR0interleave()
 {
 	int qwc = spr0->qwc;
 	int sqwc = dmacRegs->sqwc.SQWC; 
-	int tqwc =  dmacRegs->sqwc.TQWC; 
+	int tqwc = dmacRegs->sqwc.TQWC; 
 	u32 *pMem;
 	
 	if (tqwc == 0) tqwc = qwc;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void _SPR0interleave()
  		{
 			case MFD_VIF1:
 			case MFD_GIF:
-				hwMFIFOWrite(spr0->madr, (u8*)&PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff], spr0->qwc << 4);
+				hwMFIFOWrite(spr0->madr, &psSu8(spr0->sadr), spr0->qwc << 4);
 				mfifotransferred += spr0->qwc;
 				break;
 			
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ void _SPR0interleave()
 			case MFD_RESERVED:
 				// clear VU mem also!
 				TestClearVUs(spr0->madr, spr0->qwc << 2);
-				memcpy_fast((u8*)pMem, &PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff], spr0->qwc << 4);
+				memcpy_fast((u8*)pMem, &psSu8(spr0->sadr), spr0->qwc << 4);
 				break;
  		}
 		spr0->sadr += spr0->qwc * 16;
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ static __forceinline void _dmaSPR0()
 				return;
 			}
 			// Destination Chain Mode
-			ptag = (u32*) & PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff];
+			ptag = &psSu32(spr0->sadr);
 			spr0->sadr += 16;
 			
 			Tag::UnsafeTransfer(spr0, ptag);
@@ -186,25 +186,26 @@ static __forceinline void _dmaSPR0()
 					break;
 
 				case TAG_CNT: // CNT - Transfer QWC following the tag.
-					done = FALSE;
+					done = false;
 					break;
 
 				case TAG_END: // End - Transfer QWC following the tag
-					done = TRUE;
+					done = true;
 					break;
 			}
+			
 			SPR0chain();
 			if (spr0->chcr.TIE && Tag::IRQ(ptag))  			 //Check TIE bit of CHCR and IRQ bit of tag
 			{
 				//Console.WriteLn("SPR0 TIE");
-				done = TRUE;
+				done = true;
 			}
 				
 			spr0finished = done;
 			
 			if (!done)
 			{
-				ptag = (u32*) & PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff];		//Set memory pointer to SADR
+				ptag = &psSu32(spr0->sadr);		//Set memory pointer to SADR
 				CPU_INT(8, ((u16)ptag[0]) / BIAS); // the lower 16bits of the tag / BIAS);
 				return;
 			}
@@ -227,8 +228,18 @@ void SPRFROMinterrupt()
 
 	if(mfifotransferred != 0)
 	{
-		switch (dmacRegs->ctrl.MFD)
+        switch (dmacRegs->ctrl.MFD)
 		{
+			case MFD_VIF1: // Most common case.
+			{
+				if ((spr0->madr & ~dmacRegs->rbsr.RMSK) != dmacRegs->rbor.ADDR) Console.WriteLn("VIF MFIFO Write outside MFIFO area");
+				spr0->madr = dmacRegs->rbor.ADDR + (spr0->madr & dmacRegs->rbsr.RMSK);
+				//Console.WriteLn("mfifoVIF1transfer %x madr %x, tadr %x", vif1ch->chcr._u32, vif1ch->madr, vif1ch->tadr);
+				mfifoVIF1transfer(mfifotransferred);
+				mfifotransferred = 0;
+				if (vif1ch->chcr.STR) return;
+				break;
+			}
 			case MFD_GIF:
 			{
 				if ((spr0->madr & ~dmacRegs->rbsr.RMSK) != dmacRegs->rbor.ADDR) Console.WriteLn("GIF MFIFO Write outside MFIFO area");
@@ -239,16 +250,6 @@ void SPRFROMinterrupt()
 				if (gif->chcr.STR) return;
 				break;
 			}
-			case MFD_VIF1:
-			{
-				if ((spr0->madr & ~psHu32(DMAC_RBSR)) != psHu32(DMAC_RBOR)) Console.WriteLn("VIF MFIFO Write outside MFIFO area");
-				spr0->madr = dmacRegs->rbor.ADDR + (spr0->madr & dmacRegs->rbsr.RMSK);
-				//Console.WriteLn("mfifoVIF1transfer %x madr %x, tadr %x", vif1ch->chcr._u32, vif1ch->madr, vif1ch->tadr);
-				mfifoVIF1transfer(mfifotransferred);
-				mfifotransferred = 0;
-				if (vif1ch->chcr.STR) return;
-				break;
-			}
 			default:
 				break;
 		}
@@ -258,7 +259,6 @@ void SPRFROMinterrupt()
 	hwDmacIrq(DMAC_FROM_SPR);
 }
 
-
 void dmaSPR0()   // fromSPR
 {
 	SPR_LOG("dmaSPR0 chcr = %lx, madr = %lx, qwc  = %lx, sadr = %lx",
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ void dmaSPR0()   // fromSPR
 	if ((spr0->chcr.MOD == CHAIN_MODE) && spr0->qwc == 0)
 	{
 		u32 *ptag;
-		ptag = (u32*) & PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr0->sadr & 0x3fff];		//Set memory pointer to SADR
+		ptag = &psSu32(spr0->sadr);		//Set memory pointer to SADR
 		CPU_INT(8, (ptag[0] & 0xffff) / BIAS);
 		return;
 	}
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ void dmaSPR0()   // fromSPR
 
 __forceinline static void SPR1transfer(u32 *data, int size)
 {
-	memcpy_fast(&PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr1->sadr & 0x3fff], (u8*)data, size << 2);
+	memcpy_fast(&psSu8(spr1->sadr), (u8*)data, size << 2);
 
 	spr1->sadr += size << 2;
 }
@@ -305,7 +305,6 @@ __forceinline void SPR1chain()
 	spr1->qwc = 0;
 }
 
-
 void _SPR1interleave()
 {
 	int qwc = spr1->qwc;
@@ -322,7 +321,7 @@ void _SPR1interleave()
 		spr1->qwc = std::min(tqwc, qwc);
 		qwc -= spr1->qwc;
 		pMem = (u32*)dmaGetAddr(spr1->madr);
-		memcpy_fast(&PS2MEM_SCRATCH[spr1->sadr & 0x3fff], (u8*)pMem, spr1->qwc << 4);
+		memcpy_fast(&psSu8(spr1->sadr), (u8*)pMem, spr1->qwc << 4);
 		spr1->sadr += spr1->qwc * 16;
 		spr1->madr += (sqwc + spr1->qwc) * 16; 
 	}
@@ -405,11 +404,10 @@ void _dmaSPR1()   // toSPR work function
 			break;
 		}
 	}
-
 }
+
 void dmaSPR1()   // toSPR
 {
-
 	SPR_LOG("dmaSPR1 chcr = 0x%x, madr = 0x%x, qwc  = 0x%x\n"
 	        "        tadr = 0x%x, sadr = 0x%x",
 	        spr1->chcr._u32, spr1->madr, spr1->qwc,
diff --git a/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp b/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
index dd6d4c755..08bb0b997 100644
--- a/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ void memSavingState::FreezeMem( void* data, int size )
 
 void memSavingState::FreezeAll()
 {
-	// 90% of all savestates fit in under 45 megs (and require more than 43 megs, so migght as well...)
+	// 90% of all savestates fit in under 45 megs (and require more than 43 megs, so might as well...)
 	m_memory.ChunkSize = ReallocThreshold;
 	m_memory.MakeRoomFor( MemoryBaseAllocSize );
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/Sif.cpp b/pcsx2/Sif.cpp
index 69a0a4c9f..4eaf8a597 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Sif.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Sif.cpp
@@ -201,8 +201,8 @@ __forceinline void SIF0Dma()
 					else
 						SIF_LOG(" EE SIF interrupt");
 
-					eesifbusy[0] = false;
 					CPU_INT(5, cycles*BIAS);
+					eesifbusy[0] = false;
 					done = true;
 				}
 				else if (sif0.fifoSize >= 4) // Read a tag
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ __forceinline void SIF0Dma()
 					sif0dma->madr = tag[1];
 
 					SIF_LOG(" EE SIF dest chain tag madr:%08X qwc:%04X id:%X irq:%d(%08X_%08X)", sif0dma->madr, sif0dma->qwc, (tag[0] >> 28)&3, (tag[0] >> 31)&1, tag[1], tag[0]);
-
+					
 					switch (Tag::Id(tag[0]))
 					{
 						case TAG_REFE:
@@ -277,9 +277,7 @@ __forceinline void SIF1Dma()
 					ptag = _dmaGetAddr(sif1dma, sif1dma->tadr, DMAC_SIF1);
 					if (ptag == NULL) return;
 					
-					
-					sif1dma->chcr._u32 = (sif1dma->chcr._u32 & 0xFFFF) | ((*ptag) & 0xFFFF0000);     // Copy the tag
-					sif1dma->qwc = (u16)ptag[0];
+					Tag::UnsafeTransfer(sif1dma, ptag);
 
 					if (sif1dma->chcr.TTE)
 					{
@@ -287,6 +285,11 @@ __forceinline void SIF1Dma()
 						SIF1write(ptag + 2, 2);
 					}
 
+					if ((sif1dma->chcr.TIE) && (Tag::IRQ(ptag)))
+					{
+						Console.WriteLn("SIF1 TIE");
+						sif1.end = 1;
+					}
 					//sif1.chain = 1;
 
 					switch (Tag::Id(ptag))
@@ -327,11 +330,6 @@ __forceinline void SIF1Dma()
 						default:
 							Console.WriteLn("Bad addr1 source chain");
 					}
-					if ((sif1dma->chcr.TIE) && (Tag::IRQ(ptag)))
-					{
-						Console.WriteLn("SIF1 TIE");
-						sif1.end = 1;
-					}
 				}
 			}
 			else // There's some data ready to transfer into the fifo..
diff --git a/pcsx2/System.h b/pcsx2/System.h
index 8f3052b2a..549cea256 100644
--- a/pcsx2/System.h
+++ b/pcsx2/System.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ extern void vSyncDebugStuff( uint frame );
 	extern void SysPageFaultExceptionFilter( int signal, siginfo_t *info, void * );
 	extern void __fastcall InstallLinuxExceptionHandler();
 	extern void __fastcall ReleaseLinuxExceptionHandler();
-	static void __unused NTFS_CompressFile( const wxString& file, bool compressStatus=true ) {}
+	static void NTFS_CompressFile( const wxString& file, bool compressStatus=true ) {}
 
 #	define PCSX2_MEM_PROTECT_BEGIN()	InstallLinuxExceptionHandler()
 #	define PCSX2_MEM_PROTECT_END()		ReleaseLinuxExceptionHandler()
diff --git a/pcsx2/System/SysThreads.cpp b/pcsx2/System/SysThreads.cpp
index 727c36343..69edd48b2 100644
--- a/pcsx2/System/SysThreads.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/System/SysThreads.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,18 @@ bool SysThreadBase::Suspend( bool isBlocking )
 		m_sem_event.Post();
 	}
 
-	if( isBlocking ) m_RunningLock.Wait();
+	if( isBlocking )
+	{
+		if( !m_RunningLock.Wait( wxTimeSpan( 0,0,3,0 ) ) )
+		{
+			// [TODO] : Implement proper deadlock handler here that lets the user continue
+			// to wait, or issue a cancel to the thread.
+
+			throw Exception::ThreadTimedOut( L"Possible deadlock while suspending the " + m_name,
+				m_name + L" is not responding to suspend requests.  It may be deadlocked or just running *really* slow."
+			);
+		}
+	}
 	return retval;
 }
 
@@ -471,6 +482,8 @@ void SysCoreThread::CpuExecute()
 
 void SysCoreThread::ExecuteTaskInThread()
 {
+	Threading::EnableHiresScheduler();
+
 	tls_coreThread = this;
 
 	m_sem_event.WaitRaw();
@@ -497,6 +510,8 @@ void SysCoreThread::OnResumeInThread( bool isSuspended )
 // Invoked by the pthread_exit or pthread_cancel
 void SysCoreThread::OnCleanupInThread()
 {
+	Threading::DisableHiresScheduler();
+
 	if( g_plugins != NULL )
 		g_plugins->Close();
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/App.h b/pcsx2/gui/App.h
index ffb1601a6..fd64db75f 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/App.h
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/App.h
@@ -403,7 +403,6 @@ public:
 	//   Console / Program Logging Helpers
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	ConsoleLogFrame* GetProgramLog();
-	void ProgramLog_CountMsg();
 	void ProgramLog_PostEvent( wxEvent& evt );
 	void EnableAllLogging() const;
 	void DisableWindowLogging() const;
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
index 6959a3793..b05714a1a 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
@@ -273,15 +273,22 @@ bool Pcsx2App::PrepForExit( bool canCancel )
 		throw Exception::CancelEvent( "Savestate in progress, cannot close program (close event delayed)" );
 	}
 
+	/*
 	if( canCancel )
 	{
+		// TODO: Confirm with the user?
+		// Problem: Suspend is often slow because it needs to wait until the current EE frame
+		// has finished processing (if the GS or logging has incurred severe overhead this makes
+		// closing PCSX2 difficult).  A non-blocking suspend with modal dialog might suffice
+		// however. --air
+		
 		bool resume = CoreThread.Suspend();
-		if( /* TODO: Confirm with the user? */ false )
+		if( false )
 		{
 			if(resume) CoreThread.Resume();
 			return false;
 		}
-	}
+	}*/
 
 	m_evtsrc_AppStatus.Dispatch( AppStatus_Exiting );
 	CleanupMess();
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.cpp
index 5b656eba8..a2bb5058b 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.cpp
@@ -27,14 +27,14 @@ BEGIN_DECLARE_EVENT_TYPES()
 	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_LOG_Write, -1)
 	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_LOG_Newline, -1)
 	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_SetTitleText, -1)
-	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_SemaphoreWait, -1)
+	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_FlushQueue, -1)
 END_DECLARE_EVENT_TYPES()
 
 DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_LOG_Write)
 DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_LOG_Newline)
 DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_SetTitleText)
 DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_DockConsole)
-DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_SemaphoreWait)
+DEFINE_EVENT_TYPE(wxEVT_FlushQueue)
 
 // C++ requires abstract destructors to exist, even thought hey're abstract.
 PipeRedirectionBase::~PipeRedirectionBase() throw() {}
@@ -226,12 +226,23 @@ ConsoleLogFrame::ConsoleLogFrame( MainEmuFrame *parent, const wxString& title, A
 ,	m_TextCtrl( *new wxTextCtrl(this, wxID_ANY, wxEmptyString, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize,
 		wxTE_MULTILINE | wxHSCROLL | wxTE_READONLY | wxTE_RICH2 ) )
 ,	m_ColorTable( options.FontSize )
-,	m_curcolor( DefaultConsoleColor )
-,	m_msgcounter( 0 )
+
+,	m_pendingFlushes( 0 )
+,	m_WaitingThreadsForFlush( 0 )
+
+,	m_ThawThrottle( 0 )
+,	m_ThawNeeded( false )
+,	m_ThawPending( false )
+
+,	m_QueueColorSection( L"ConsoleLog::QueueColorSection" )
+,	m_QueueBuffer( L"ConsoleLog::QueueBuffer" )
+,	m_CurQueuePos( false )
+
 ,	m_threadlogger( EnableThreadedLoggingTest ? new ConsoleTestThread() : NULL )
 {
 	m_TextCtrl.SetBackgroundColour( wxColor( 230, 235, 242 ) );
-
+	m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[DefaultConsoleColor] );
+	
     // create Log menu (contains most options)
 	wxMenuBar *pMenuBar = new wxMenuBar();
 	wxMenu& menuLog = *new wxMenu();
@@ -263,7 +274,6 @@ ConsoleLogFrame::ConsoleLogFrame( MainEmuFrame *parent, const wxString& title, A
 
 	// status bar for menu prompts
 	CreateStatusBar();
-	ClearColor();
 
 	SetSize( wxRect( options.DisplayPosition, options.DisplaySize ) );
 	Show( options.Visible );
@@ -281,11 +291,10 @@ ConsoleLogFrame::ConsoleLogFrame( MainEmuFrame *parent, const wxString& title, A
 	Connect( wxEVT_MOVE,			wxMoveEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnMoveAround) );
 	Connect( wxEVT_SIZE,			wxSizeEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnResize) );
 
-	Connect( wxEVT_LOG_Write,		wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnWrite) );
-	Connect( wxEVT_LOG_Newline,		wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnNewline) );
 	Connect( wxEVT_SetTitleText,	wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnSetTitle) );
 	Connect( wxEVT_DockConsole,		wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnDockedMove) );
-	Connect( wxEVT_SemaphoreWait,	wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnSemaphoreWait) );
+
+	Connect( wxEVT_FlushQueue,		wxCommandEventHandler(ConsoleLogFrame::OnFlushEvent) );
 
 	if( m_threadlogger != NULL )
 		m_threadlogger->Start();
@@ -297,51 +306,74 @@ ConsoleLogFrame::~ConsoleLogFrame()
 	wxGetApp().OnProgramLogClosed();
 }
 
-void ConsoleLogFrame::SetColor( ConsoleColors color )
-{
-	if( color != m_curcolor )
-		m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[m_curcolor=color] );
-}
-
-void ConsoleLogFrame::ClearColor()
-{
-	if( DefaultConsoleColor != m_curcolor )
-		m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[m_curcolor=DefaultConsoleColor] );
-}
-
-void ConsoleLogFrame::Write( const wxString& text )
-{
-	// remove selection (WriteText is in fact ReplaceSelection)
-	// TODO : Optimize this to only replace selection if some selection
-	//   messages have been received since the last write.
-
-#ifdef __WXMSW__
-	wxTextPos nLen = m_TextCtrl.GetLastPosition();
-	m_TextCtrl.SetSelection(nLen, nLen);
-#endif
-
-	m_TextCtrl.AppendText( text );
-
-	// cap at 256k for now...
-	// fixme - 256k runs well on win32 but appears to be very sluggish on linux.  Might
-	// need platform dependent defaults here. - air
-	if( m_TextCtrl.GetLastPosition() > 0x40000 )
-	{
-		m_TextCtrl.Remove( 0, 0x10000 );
-	}
-}
+int m_pendingFlushes = 0;
 
 // Implementation note:  Calls SetColor and Write( text ).  Override those virtuals
 // and this one will magically follow suite. :)
 void ConsoleLogFrame::Write( ConsoleColors color, const wxString& text )
 {
-	SetColor( color );
-	Write( text );
+//#ifdef PCSX2_SEH
+	pthread_testcancel();
+//#endif
+
+	ScopedLock lock( m_QueueLock );
+
+	if( m_QueueColorSection.GetLength() == 0 )
+	{
+		pxAssertMsg( m_CurQueuePos == 0, "Queue's character position didn't get reset in sync with it's ColorSection table." );
+	}
+
+	if( (m_QueueColorSection.GetLength() == 0) || ((color != Color_Current) && (m_QueueColorSection.GetLast().color != color)) )
+	{		
+		++m_CurQueuePos;		// Don't overwrite the NULL;
+		m_QueueColorSection.Add( ColorSection(color, m_CurQueuePos) );
+	}
+
+	int endpos = m_CurQueuePos + text.Length();
+	m_QueueBuffer.MakeRoomFor( endpos + 1 );		// and the null!!
+	memcpy_fast( &m_QueueBuffer[m_CurQueuePos], text.c_str(), sizeof(wxChar) * text.Length() );
+	m_CurQueuePos = endpos;
+	
+	// this NULL may be overwritten if the next message sent doesn't perform a color change.
+	m_QueueBuffer[m_CurQueuePos] = 0;
+	
+	// Idle events don't always pass (wx blocks them when moving windows or using menus, for
+	// example).  So let's hackfix it so that an alternate message is posted if the queue is
+	// "piling up."
+
+	if( m_pendingFlushes == 0 )
+	{
+		wxCommandEvent evt( wxEVT_FlushQueue );
+		evt.SetInt( 0 );
+		GetEventHandler()->AddPendingEvent( evt );
+	}
+
+	++m_pendingFlushes;
+
+	if( m_pendingFlushes > 32 && !wxThread::IsMain() )
+	{
+		++m_WaitingThreadsForFlush;
+		lock.Unlock();
+
+		if( !m_sem_QueueFlushed.WaitRaw( wxTimeSpan( 0,0,0,500 ) ) )
+		{
+			// Necessary since the main thread could grab the lock and process before
+			// the above function actually returns (gotta love threading!)
+			lock.Lock();
+			if( m_WaitingThreadsForFlush != 0 ) --m_WaitingThreadsForFlush;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// give gui thread time to repaint and handle other pending messages.
+			// (those are prioritized lower than wxEvents, typically)
+			Sleep(1);
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 void ConsoleLogFrame::Newline()
 {
-	Write( L"\n" );
+	Write( Color_Current, L"\n" );
 }
 
 void ConsoleLogFrame::DoClose()
@@ -364,7 +396,7 @@ void ConsoleLogFrame::DockedMove()
 //    * Logging Events
 // =================================================================================
 
-// Special event recieved from a window we're docked against.
+// Special event received from a window we're docked against.
 void ConsoleLogFrame::OnDockedMove( wxCommandEvent& event )
 {
 	DockedMove();
@@ -466,7 +498,7 @@ void ConsoleLogFrame::OnFontSize( wxMenuEvent& evt )
 
 	m_conf.FontSize = ptsize;
 	m_ColorTable.SetFont( ptsize );
-	m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[m_curcolor] );
+	m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[Color_White] );
 
 	// TODO: Process the attributes of each character and upgrade the font size,
 	// while still retaining color and bold settings...  (might be slow but then
@@ -478,102 +510,113 @@ void ConsoleLogFrame::OnFontSize( wxMenuEvent& evt )
 //  Logging Events (typically received from Console class interfaces)
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-void ConsoleLogFrame::OnWrite( wxCommandEvent& event )
-{
-	Write( (ConsoleColors)event.GetExtraLong(), event.GetString() );
-	DoMessage();
-}
-
-void ConsoleLogFrame::OnNewline( wxCommandEvent& event )
-{
-	Newline();
-	DoMessage();
-}
-
 void ConsoleLogFrame::OnSetTitle( wxCommandEvent& event )
 {
 	SetTitle( event.GetString() );
 }
 
-void ConsoleLogFrame::OnSemaphoreWait( wxCommandEvent& event )
+void ConsoleLogFrame::OnFlushEvent( wxCommandEvent& evt )
 {
-	m_semaphore.Post();
+	ScopedLock locker( m_QueueLock );
+
+	if( m_CurQueuePos != 0 )
+	{
+		DoFlushQueue();
+
+#ifdef __WXMSW__
+		// This nicely sets the scroll position to the end of our log window, regardless of if
+		// the textctrl has focus or not.  The wxWidgets AppendText() function uses EM_LINESCROLL
+		// instead, which tends to be much faster for high-volume logs, but also ends up refreshing
+		// the console in sloppy fashion for normal logging.
+		
+		// (both are needed, the WM_VSCROLL makes the scrolling smooth, and the EM_LINESCROLL avoids
+		// weird errors when the buffer reaches "max" and starts clearing old history)
+
+		::SendMessage((HWND)m_TextCtrl.GetHWND(), WM_VSCROLL, SB_BOTTOM, (LPARAM)NULL);
+		::SendMessage((HWND)m_TextCtrl.GetHWND(), EM_LINESCROLL, 0, m_TextCtrl.GetNumberOfLines());
+#endif
+		//m_TextCtrl.Thaw();
+	}
+
+	// Implementation note: I tried desperately to move this into wxEVT_IDLE, on the theory that
+	// we don't actually want to wake up pending threads until after the GUI's finished all its
+	// paperwork.  But wxEVT_IDLE doesn't work when you click menus or the title bar of a window,
+	// making it pretty well annoyingly useless for just about anything. >_<
+
+	// Workaround: I added a Sleep(1) to the DoWrite method to give the GUI some time to
+	// do its paperwork.
+
+	if( m_WaitingThreadsForFlush > 0 )
+	{
+		do {
+			m_sem_QueueFlushed.Post();
+		} while( --m_WaitingThreadsForFlush > 0 );
+
+		int count = m_sem_QueueFlushed.Count();
+		while( count < 0 ) m_sem_QueueFlushed.Post();
+	}
 }
 
-static const wxTimeSpan high_volume_timeout( 0, 0, 0, 500 );
-
-// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Deadlock protection: High volume logs will over-tax our message pump and cause the
-// GUI to become inaccessible.  The cool solution would be a threaded log window, but wx
-// is entirely un-safe for that kind of threading.  So instead I use a message counter
-// that stalls non-GUI threads when they attempt to over-tax an already burdened log.
-// If too many messages get queued up, non-gui threads are stalled to allow the gui to
-// catch up.
-void ConsoleLogFrame::CountMessage()
+void ConsoleLogFrame::DoFlushQueue()
 {
-	long result = _InterlockedIncrement( &m_msgcounter );
+	int len = m_QueueColorSection.GetLength();
+	pxAssert( len != 0 );
 
-	if( result > 0x20 )		// 0x20 -- arbitrary value that seems to work well (tested on P4 and C2D)
+	// Note, freezing/thawing actually seems to cause more overhead than it solves.
+	// It might be useful if we're posting like dozens of messages, but in our case
+	// we only post 1-4 typically, so better to leave things enabled.
+	//m_TextCtrl.Freeze();
+
+	// Manual InsertionPoint tracking avoids a lot of overhead in SetInsertionPointEnd()
+	wxTextPos insertPoint = m_TextCtrl.GetLastPosition();
+
+	// cap at 256k for now...
+	// fixme - 256k runs well on win32 but appears to be very sluggish on linux (but that could
+	// be a result of my using Xming + CoLinux).  Might need platform dependent defaults here. --air
+	if( (insertPoint + m_CurQueuePos) > 0x40000 )
 	{
-		if( !wxThread::IsMain() )
+		int toKeep = 0x40000 - m_CurQueuePos;
+		if( toKeep <= 10 )
 		{
-			// Append an event that'll post up our semaphore.  It'll typically get run "in
-			// order" which means when it posts all queued messages will have been processed.
-
-			// GTK+ / Timeout: We need a timeout on our semaphore to avoid deadlocking in GTK+,
-			// because for some reason it can't friggen process messages from a wxYield()
-			// (which is used from mutex and semaphore locks on the main thread to handle
-			//  messages from child threads, like this one!).
-
-			// Leaving it enabled on Windows as well for now since it's probably a "good idea" to avoid
-			// deadlocking in some totally unforseeably random happenstance sircumstance, and I don't
-			// think it'll have an impact on performance. --air
-
-			wxCommandEvent evt( wxEVT_SemaphoreWait );
-			GetEventHandler()->AddPendingEvent( evt );
-			m_semaphore.WaitRaw( high_volume_timeout );
+			m_TextCtrl.Clear();
+			insertPoint = 0;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			int toRemove = 0x40000 - toKeep;
+			if( toRemove < 0x10000 ) toRemove = 0x10000;
+			m_TextCtrl.Remove( 0, toRemove );
+			insertPoint -= toRemove;
 		}
 	}
-}
 
-// Thread Safety note: This function expects to be called from the Main GUI thread
-// only.  If called from a thread other than Main, it will generate an assertion failure.
-//
-void ConsoleLogFrame::DoMessage()
-{
-	AllowFromMainThreadOnly();
+	m_TextCtrl.SetInsertionPoint( insertPoint );
 
-	int cur = _InterlockedDecrement( &m_msgcounter );
-
-	// We need to freeze the control if there are more than 2 pending messages,
-	// otherwise the redraw of the console will prevent it from ever being able to
-	// catch up with the rate the queue is being filled, and the whole app could
-	// deadlock. >_<
-
-	if( m_TextCtrl.IsFrozen() )
+	for( int i=0; i<len; ++i )
 	{
-		if( cur < 1 )
-			m_TextCtrl.Thaw();
-	}
-	else if( cur >= 3 )
-	{
-		m_TextCtrl.Freeze();
-	}
-}
+		if( m_QueueColorSection[i].color != Color_Current )
+			m_TextCtrl.SetDefaultStyle( m_ColorTable[m_QueueColorSection[i].color] );
 
+		const wxString passin( &m_QueueBuffer[m_QueueColorSection[i].startpoint] );
+
+		m_TextCtrl.WriteText( passin );
+		insertPoint += passin.Length();
+	}
+
+	m_TextCtrl.SetInsertionPoint( insertPoint );
+
+	m_CurQueuePos = 0;
+	m_QueueColorSection.Clear();
+	m_pendingFlushes = 0;
+
+	//m_TextCtrl.ShowPosition( insertPoint );
+}
 
 ConsoleLogFrame* Pcsx2App::GetProgramLog()
 {
 	return m_ProgramLogBox;
 }
 
-void Pcsx2App::ProgramLog_CountMsg()
-{
-	// New console log object model makes this check obsolete:
-	//if( m_ProgramLogBox == NULL ) return;
-	m_ProgramLogBox->CountMessage();
-}
-
 void Pcsx2App::ProgramLog_PostEvent( wxEvent& evt )
 {
 	// New console log object model makes this check obsolete:
@@ -655,37 +698,21 @@ template< const IConsoleWriter& secondary >
 static void __concall ConsoleToWindow_Newline()
 {
 	secondary.Newline();
-
-	wxCommandEvent evt( wxEVT_LOG_Newline );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_PostEvent( evt );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_CountMsg();
+	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).GetProgramLog()->Newline();
 }
 
 template< const IConsoleWriter& secondary >
 static void __concall ConsoleToWindow_DoWrite( const wxString& fmt )
 {
 	secondary.DoWrite( fmt );
-
-	wxCommandEvent evt( wxEVT_LOG_Write );
-	evt.SetString( fmt );
-	evt.SetExtraLong( th_CurrentColor );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_PostEvent( evt );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_CountMsg();
+	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).GetProgramLog()->Write( th_CurrentColor, fmt );
 }
 
 template< const IConsoleWriter& secondary >
 static void __concall ConsoleToWindow_DoWriteLn( const wxString& fmt )
 {
 	secondary.DoWriteLn( fmt );
-
-	// Implementation note: I've duplicated Write+Newline behavior here to avoid polluting
-	// the message pump with lots of erroneous messages (Newlines can be bound into Write message).
-
-	wxCommandEvent evt( wxEVT_LOG_Write );
-	evt.SetString( fmt + L"\n" );
-	evt.SetExtraLong( th_CurrentColor );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_PostEvent( evt );
-	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).ProgramLog_CountMsg();
+	((Pcsx2App&)*wxTheApp).GetProgramLog()->Write( th_CurrentColor, fmt + L"\n" );
 }
 
 typedef void __concall DoWriteFn(const wxString&);
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
index a924fe9c7..8b4719322 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
@@ -121,26 +121,74 @@ protected:
 		}
 	};
 
+	class ColorSection
+	{
+	public:
+		ConsoleColors	color;
+		int				startpoint;
+
+		ColorSection() {}
+		ColorSection( ConsoleColors _color, int msgptr ) : color(_color), startpoint(msgptr) { }
+	};
+
 protected:
 	ConLogConfig&	m_conf;
 	wxTextCtrl&		m_TextCtrl;
 	ColorArray		m_ColorTable;
-	ConsoleColors	m_curcolor;
-	volatile long	m_msgcounter;		// used to track queued messages and throttle load placed on the gui message pump
 
-	Semaphore		m_semaphore;
+	// this int throttles freeze/thaw of the display, by cycling from -2 to 4, roughly.
+	// (negative values force thaw, positive values indicate thaw is disabled.  This is
+	//  needed because the wxWidgets Thaw implementation uses a belated paint message,
+	//  and if we Freeze on the very next queued message after thawing, the repaint
+	//  never happens)
+	int				m_ThawThrottle;		
+
+	// If a freeze is executed, this is set true (without this, wx asserts)
+	bool			m_ThawNeeded;
+
+	// Set true when a Thaw message is sent (avoids cluttering the message pump with redundant
+	// requests)
+	bool			m_ThawPending;
+
+	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	//  Queue State Management Vars
+	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	// This is a counter of the total number of pending flushes across all threads.
+	// If the value exceeds a threshold, threads begin throttling to avoid deadlocking
+	// the GUI.
+	volatile int			m_pendingFlushes;
+
+	// This is a counter of the number of threads waiting for the Queue to flush.
+	volatile int			m_WaitingThreadsForFlush;
+
+	// Used by threads waiting on the queue to flush.
+	Semaphore				m_sem_QueueFlushed;
+
+	// Lock object for accessing or modifying the following three vars:
+	//  m_QueueBuffer, m_QueueColorSelection, m_CurQueuePos
+	MutexLockRecursive		m_QueueLock;
+	
+	// Describes a series of colored text sections in the m_QueueBuffer.
+	SafeList<ColorSection>	m_QueueColorSection;
+
+	// Series of Null-terminated strings, each one has a corresponding entry in
+	// m_QueueColorSelection.
+	SafeArray<wxChar>		m_QueueBuffer;
+
+	// Current write position into the m_QueueBuffer;
+	int						m_CurQueuePos;
 
 	// Threaded log spammer, useful for testing console logging performance.
-	ConsoleTestThread* m_threadlogger;
+	// (alternatively you can enable Disasm logging in any recompiler and achieve
+	// a similar effect)
+	ConsoleTestThread*		m_threadlogger;
 
 public:
 	// ctor & dtor
 	ConsoleLogFrame( MainEmuFrame *pParent, const wxString& szTitle, ConLogConfig& options );
 	virtual ~ConsoleLogFrame();
 
-	virtual void Write( const wxString& text );
-	virtual void SetColor( ConsoleColors color );
-	virtual void ClearColor();
 	virtual void DockedMove();
 
 	// Retrieves the current configuration options settings for this box.
@@ -149,11 +197,8 @@ public:
 
 	void Write( ConsoleColors color, const wxString& text );
 	void Newline();
-	void CountMessage();
-	void DoMessage();
 
 protected:
-
 	// menu callbacks
 	virtual void OnOpen (wxMenuEvent& event);
 	virtual void OnClose(wxMenuEvent& event);
@@ -164,14 +209,14 @@ protected:
 
 	virtual void OnCloseWindow(wxCloseEvent& event);
 
-	void OnWrite( wxCommandEvent& event );
-	void OnNewline( wxCommandEvent& event );
 	void OnSetTitle( wxCommandEvent& event );
 	void OnDockedMove( wxCommandEvent& event );
-	void OnSemaphoreWait( wxCommandEvent& event );
+	void OnIdleEvent( wxIdleEvent& event );
+	void OnFlushEvent( wxCommandEvent& event );
 
 	// common part of OnClose() and OnCloseWindow()
 	virtual void DoClose();
+	void DoFlushQueue();
 
 	void OnMoveAround( wxMoveEvent& evt );
 	void OnResize( wxSizeEvent& evt );
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
index 6cd165291..2d5a4dc97 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
@@ -53,14 +53,14 @@ Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::ImportSettingsDialog( wxWindow* parent ) :
 	Connect( b_over->GetId(),	wxEVT_COMMAND_BUTTON_CLICKED, wxCommandEventHandler(ImportSettingsDialog::OnOverwrite_Click) );
 }
 
-void Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::OnImport_Click( __unused wxCommandEvent& evt )
+void Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::OnImport_Click( wxCommandEvent& /* evt */ )
 {
 	AppConfig_OnChangedSettingsFolder( false );	// ... and import existing settings
 	g_Conf->Folders.Bios.Mkdir();
 	EndModal( wxID_OK );
 }
 
-void Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::OnOverwrite_Click( __unused wxCommandEvent& evt )
+void Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::OnOverwrite_Click( wxCommandEvent& /* evt */ )
 {
 	AppConfig_OnChangedSettingsFolder( true );		// ... and overwrite any existing settings
 	g_Conf->Folders.Bios.Mkdir();
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PathsPanel.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PathsPanel.cpp
index f3b0e97d6..32de87c3d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PathsPanel.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PathsPanel.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Panels::DirPickerPanel& Panels::BasePathsPanel::AddDirPicker( wxBoxSizer& sizer,
 }
 
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Panels::StandardPathsPanel::StandardPathsPanel( wxWindow& parent, __unused int idealWidth ) :
+Panels::StandardPathsPanel::StandardPathsPanel( wxWindow& parent, int /* idealWidth */ ) :
 	BasePathsPanel( parent )
 {
 	s_main.AddSpacer( BetweenFolderSpace );
diff --git a/pcsx2/x86/aVUzerorec.S b/pcsx2/x86/aVUzerorec.S
index a61b54d91..07bcd6982 100644
--- a/pcsx2/x86/aVUzerorec.S
+++ b/pcsx2/x86/aVUzerorec.S
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 // zerofrog(@gmail.com)
 .intel_syntax noprefix
         
-.extern svudispfntemp
 .extern s_TotalVUCycles
 .extern s_callstack
 .extern s_vu1esp
@@ -49,23 +48,3 @@ SuperVUEndProgram:
 		call SuperVUCleanupProgram
 		jmp [s_callstack] // so returns correctly
 
-
-.globl svudispfn
-svudispfn:
-        mov [g_curdebugvu], eax
-		mov s_saveecx, ecx
-		mov s_saveedx, edx
-		mov s_saveebx, ebx
-		mov s_saveesi, esi
-		mov s_saveedi, edi
-		mov s_saveebp, ebp
-
-        call svudispfntemp
-        
-        mov ecx, s_saveecx
-		mov edx, s_saveedx
-		mov ebx, s_saveebx
-		mov esi, s_saveesi
-		mov edi, s_saveedi
-		mov ebp, s_saveebp
-        ret
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pcsx2/x86/sVU_zerorec.cpp b/pcsx2/x86/sVU_zerorec.cpp
index 4f2c90cee..d7edef591 100644
--- a/pcsx2/x86/sVU_zerorec.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/x86/sVU_zerorec.cpp
@@ -52,12 +52,17 @@ extern void iDumpVU1Registers();
 // SuperVURec optimization options, uncomment only for debugging purposes
 #define SUPERVU_CACHING			// vu programs are saved and queried via memcompare (should be no reason to disable this)
 #define SUPERVU_WRITEBACKS			// don't flush the writebacks after every block
-#define SUPERVU_X86CACHING			// use x86reg caching (faster) (not really. rather lots slower :p (rama) )
 #define SUPERVU_VIBRANCHDELAY  		 // when integers are modified right before a branch that uses the integer,
 								// the old integer value is used in the branch, fixes kh2
 
 #define SUPERVU_PROPAGATEFLAGS  // the correct behavior of VUs, for some reason superman breaks gfx with it on...
 
+// use x86reg caching (faster) (not really. rather lots slower :p (rama) ) 
+// ... and buggy too since we disabled EBP.  Causes GoW2 to hang.  Let's get rid of it,
+//     sVU is only here to serve as a regression model for Nan/INF behavior anyway. (--air)
+//#define SUPERVU_X86CACHING
+
+
 // registers won't be flushed at block boundaries (faster) (nothing noticable speed-wise, causes SPS in Ratchet and clank (Nneeve) )
 #ifndef PCSX2_DEBUG
 //#define SUPERVU_INTERCACHING	
@@ -2791,26 +2796,9 @@ u32 g_curdebugvu;
 
 //float vuDouble(u32 f);
 
-#if defined(_MSC_VER)
-__declspec(naked) static void svudispfn()
-{
-	__asm
-	{
-		mov g_curdebugvu, eax
-		mov s_saveecx, ecx
-		mov s_saveedx, edx
-		mov s_saveebx, ebx
-		mov s_saveesi, esi
-		mov s_saveedi, edi
-		mov s_saveebp, ebp
-	}
-#else
-
-void svudispfntemp()
-{
-#endif
-
 #ifdef PCSX2_DEBUG
+static void  __fastcall svudispfn( int g_curdebugvu )
+{
 	static u32 i;
 
 	if (((vudump&8) && g_curdebugvu) || ((vudump&0x80) && !g_curdebugvu))    //&& g_vu1lastrec != g_vu1last ) {
@@ -2837,21 +2825,8 @@ void svudispfntemp()
 
 		g_vu1lastrec = s_svulast;
 	}
-#endif
-
-#if defined(_MSC_VER)
-	__asm
-	{
-	    mov ecx, s_saveecx
-	    mov edx, s_saveedx
-	    mov ebx, s_saveebx
-	    mov esi, s_saveesi
-	    mov edi, s_saveedi
-	    mov ebp, s_saveebp
-	    ret
-	}
-#endif
 }
+#endif
 
 // frees all regs taking into account the livevars
 void SuperVUFreeXMMregs(u32* livevars)
@@ -2946,8 +2921,8 @@ void VuBaseBlock::Recompile()
 
 	if (itparent == parents.end()) MOV32ItoM((uptr)&skipparent, -1);
 
-	MOV32ItoR(EAX, s_vu);
-	CALLFunc((uptr)svudispfn);
+	xMOV( ecx, s_vu );
+	xCALL( svudispfn );
 #endif
 
 	s_pCurBlock = this;
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSDevice10.cpp b/plugins/GSdx/GSDevice10.cpp
index 0fbc1c4f8..d6f5c2cb6 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSDevice10.cpp
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSDevice10.cpp
@@ -68,9 +68,14 @@ bool GSDevice10::Create(GSWnd* wnd, bool vsync)
 	scd.SampleDesc.Quality = 0;
 	scd.Windowed = TRUE;
 
-	//Crashes when 2 threads work on the swapchain, as in pcsx2/wx.
-	//Todo : Figure out a way to have this flag anyway
-	uint32 flags = 0; //D3D10_CREATE_DEVICE_SINGLETHREADED;
+	// Crashes when 2 threads work on the swapchain, as in pcsx2/wx when it provides us
+	// an external window handle (which could be attached to any thread other than the GS one).
+	// (but if we're managing our own window then it's safe to enable)
+
+	// FIXME : Figure out a way to have this flag anyway, since it's a measurable speedup (may
+	//   not be possible though).
+
+	uint32 flags = m_wnd->IsManaged() ? D3D10_CREATE_DEVICE_SINGLETHREADED : 0;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	flags |= D3D10_CREATE_DEVICE_DEBUG;
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX10.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX10.h
index 17b51589b..c3899a179 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX10.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX10.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ protected:
 
 public:
 	GSRendererDX10();
+	virtual ~GSRendererDX10() {}
 
 	bool CreateDevice(GSDevice* dev);
 
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX11.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX11.h
index 35411f90b..f1e529089 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX11.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX11.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ protected:
 
 public:
 	GSRendererDX11();
+	virtual ~GSRendererDX11() {}
 
 	bool CreateDevice(GSDevice* dev);
 
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX9.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX9.h
index 177283069..a94575a02 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX9.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererDX9.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ protected:
 
 public:
 	GSRendererDX9();
+	virtual ~GSRendererDX9() {}
 
 	bool CreateDevice(GSDevice* dev);
 
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererNull.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererNull.h
index b1c5b60b1..112e3bf62 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererNull.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererNull.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ public:
 		InitVertexKick<GSRendererNull>();
 	}
 
+	virtual ~GSRendererNull() {}
+
 	template<uint32 prim, uint32 tme, uint32 fst> void VertexKick(bool skip)
 	{
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererOGL.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererOGL.h
index e9accf1a8..4a6bc9e44 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererOGL.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRendererOGL.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ protected:
 
 public:
 	GSRendererOGL();
+	virtual ~GSRendererOGL() {}
 
 	bool CreateDevice(GSDevice* dev);