diff --git a/src/core/core.cpp b/src/core/core.cpp
index 59b8768e7..ecc5f541d 100644
--- a/src/core/core.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // Refer to the license.txt file included.
 
 #include <memory>
+#include <thread>
 #include <utility>
 #include "audio_core/audio_core.h"
 #include "common/logging/log.h"
@@ -26,6 +27,11 @@ namespace Core {
 
 /*static*/ System System::s_instance;
 
+std::thread CpuThread;
+std::atomic<bool> CpuThreadRunning;
+std::atomic<bool> RunCPU;
+std::atomic<int> TightLoop;
+
 System::ResultStatus System::RunLoop(int tight_loop) {
     status = ResultStatus::Success;
     if (!cpu_core) {
@@ -47,6 +53,15 @@ System::ResultStatus System::RunLoop(int tight_loop) {
         }
     }
 
+    TightLoop += tight_loop;
+    RunCPU = true;
+
+    HW::Update();
+
+    return status;
+}
+
+void System::RunLoopInner() {
     // If we don't have a currently active thread then don't execute instructions,
     // instead advance to the next event and try to yield to the next thread
     if (Kernel::GetCurrentThread() == nullptr) {
@@ -55,13 +70,20 @@ System::ResultStatus System::RunLoop(int tight_loop) {
         CoreTiming::Advance();
         PrepareReschedule();
     } else {
-        cpu_core->Run(tight_loop);
+        cpu_core->Run(TightLoop);
     }
 
-    HW::Update();
+    TightLoop = 0;
     Reschedule();
+}
 
-    return status;
+void System::RunLoopInThread() {
+    while (CpuThreadRunning) {
+        if (RunCPU) {
+            RunLoopInner();
+            RunCPU = false;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 System::ResultStatus System::SingleStep() {
@@ -164,10 +186,16 @@ System::ResultStatus System::Init(EmuWindow* emu_window, u32 system_mode) {
     GetAndResetPerfStats();
     perf_stats.BeginSystemFrame();
 
+    CpuThreadRunning = true;
+    CpuThread = std::thread(&System::RunLoopInThread, this);
+
     return ResultStatus::Success;
 }
 
 void System::Shutdown() {
+    CpuThreadRunning = false;
+    CpuThread.join();
+
     // Log last frame performance stats
     auto perf_results = GetAndResetPerfStats();
     Telemetry().AddField(Telemetry::FieldType::Performance, "Shutdown_EmulationSpeed",
diff --git a/src/core/core.h b/src/core/core.h
index 9805cc694..2022df6ee 100644
--- a/src/core/core.h
+++ b/src/core/core.h
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ public:
      * @return Result status, indicating whethor or not the operation succeeded.
      */
     ResultStatus RunLoop(int tight_loop = 1000);
+    void RunLoopInThread();
+    void RunLoopInner();
 
     /**
      * Step the CPU one instruction
diff --git a/src/core/hw/gpu.cpp b/src/core/hw/gpu.cpp
index 83ad9d898..d5857349d 100644
--- a/src/core/hw/gpu.cpp
+++ b/src/core/hw/gpu.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Licensed under GPLv2 or any later version
 // Refer to the license.txt file included.
 
+#include <boost/lockfree/queue.hpp>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <numeric>
 #include <type_traits>
@@ -28,6 +29,14 @@ namespace GPU {
 
 Regs g_regs;
 
+struct WriteThing {
+    u32 addr;
+    u32 data;
+};
+
+std::atomic<bool> VBlankGo = false;
+boost::lockfree::queue<WriteThing> WriteQueue(128);
+
 /// 268MHz CPU clocks / 60Hz frames per second
 const u64 frame_ticks = static_cast<u64>(BASE_CLOCK_RATE_ARM11 / SCREEN_REFRESH_RATE);
 /// Event id for CoreTiming
@@ -392,6 +401,11 @@ static void TextureCopy(const Regs::DisplayTransferConfig& config) {
 
 template <typename T>
 inline void Write(u32 addr, const T data) {
+    WriteQueue.push(WriteThing{addr, static_cast<u32>(data)});
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+inline void WriteE(u32 addr, const T data) {
     addr -= HW::VADDR_GPU;
     u32 index = addr / 4;
 
@@ -515,8 +529,6 @@ template void Write<u8>(u32 addr, const u8 data);
 
 /// Update hardware
 static void VBlankCallback(u64 userdata, int cycles_late) {
-    VideoCore::g_renderer->SwapBuffers();
-
     // Signal to GSP that GPU interrupt has occurred
     // TODO(yuriks): hwtest to determine if PDC0 is for the Top screen and PDC1 for the Sub
     // screen, or if both use the same interrupts and these two instead determine the
@@ -524,6 +536,7 @@ static void VBlankCallback(u64 userdata, int cycles_late) {
     // two different intervals.
     Service::GSP::SignalInterrupt(Service::GSP::InterruptId::PDC0);
     Service::GSP::SignalInterrupt(Service::GSP::InterruptId::PDC1);
+    VBlankGo = true;
 
     // Reschedule recurrent event
     CoreTiming::ScheduleEvent(frame_ticks - cycles_late, vblank_event);
@@ -565,6 +578,17 @@ void Init() {
     LOG_DEBUG(HW_GPU, "initialized OK");
 }
 
+void Update() {
+    WriteThing thing;
+    while (WriteQueue.pop(thing)) {
+        WriteE<u32>(thing.addr, thing.data);
+    }
+    if (VBlankGo) {
+        VideoCore::g_renderer->SwapBuffers();
+        VBlankGo = false;
+    }
+}
+
 /// Shutdown hardware
 void Shutdown() {
     LOG_DEBUG(HW_GPU, "shutdown OK");
diff --git a/src/core/hw/gpu.h b/src/core/hw/gpu.h
index e3d0a0e08..1e2758c35 100644
--- a/src/core/hw/gpu.h
+++ b/src/core/hw/gpu.h
@@ -328,6 +328,8 @@ void Write(u32 addr, const T data);
 /// Initialize hardware
 void Init();
 
+void Update();
+
 /// Shutdown hardware
 void Shutdown();
 
diff --git a/src/core/hw/hw.cpp b/src/core/hw/hw.cpp
index 8499f2ce6..4e4915ab9 100644
--- a/src/core/hw/hw.cpp
+++ b/src/core/hw/hw.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ template void Write<u16>(u32 addr, const u16 data);
 template void Write<u8>(u32 addr, const u8 data);
 
 /// Update hardware
-void Update() {}
+void Update() {
+    GPU::Update();
+}
 
 /// Initialize hardware
 void Init() {