diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/OpcodeDecoding.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/OpcodeDecoding.cpp
index fcc33add24..c1ac5c876c 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/OpcodeDecoding.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/OpcodeDecoding.cpp
@@ -127,10 +127,8 @@ public:
     // load vertices
     const u32 size = vertex_size * num_vertices;
 
-    // HACK
-    DataReader src{const_cast<u8*>(vertex_data), const_cast<u8*>(vertex_data) + size};
     const u32 bytes =
-        VertexLoaderManager::RunVertices<is_preprocess>(vat, primitive, num_vertices, src);
+        VertexLoaderManager::RunVertices<is_preprocess>(vat, primitive, num_vertices, vertex_data);
 
     ASSERT(bytes == size);
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.cpp
index 8176027b45..c2d3c1bd29 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #include "Common/Assert.h"
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Color.h"
@@ -16,7 +15,7 @@
 #include "VideoCommon/VideoCommon.h"
 
 // This pointer is used as the source/dst for all fixed function loader calls
-u8* g_video_buffer_read_ptr;
+const u8* g_video_buffer_read_ptr;
 u8* g_vertex_manager_write_ptr;
 
 static void PosMtx_ReadDirect_UByte(VertexLoader* loader)
@@ -222,7 +221,7 @@ void VertexLoader::CompileVertexTranslator()
           WriteCall(VertexLoader_TextCoord::GetDummyFunction());  // important to get indices right!
           break;
         }
-        else if (m_VtxDesc.low.TexMatIdx[i])
+        else if (m_VtxDesc.low.TexMatIdx[j])
         {
           has_more = true;
         }
@@ -249,10 +248,10 @@ void VertexLoader::WriteCall(TPipelineFunction func)
   m_PipelineStages[m_numPipelineStages++] = func;
 }
 
-int VertexLoader::RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count)
+int VertexLoader::RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count)
 {
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
-  g_video_buffer_read_ptr = src.GetPointer();
+  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst;
+  g_video_buffer_read_ptr = src;
 
   m_numLoadedVertices += count;
   m_skippedVertices = 0;
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h
index b3bb0b270a..d1417401a4 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h"
 
-class DataReader;
 class VertexLoader;
 typedef void (*TPipelineFunction)(VertexLoader* loader);
 
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ class VertexLoader : public VertexLoaderBase
 public:
   VertexLoader(const TVtxDesc& vtx_desc, const VAT& vtx_attr);
 
-  int RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count) override;
+  int RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count) override;
   // They are used for the communication with the loader functions
   float m_posScale;
   float m_tcScale[8];
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.cpp
index 99ba5b3357..b65425c451 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/CPMemory.h"
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 
 using namespace Arm64Gen;
@@ -517,9 +516,8 @@ void VertexLoaderARM64::GenerateVertexLoader()
   m_native_vtx_decl.stride = m_dst_ofs;
 }
 
-int VertexLoaderARM64::RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count)
+int VertexLoaderARM64::RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count)
 {
   m_numLoadedVertices += count;
-  return ((int (*)(u8 * src, u8 * dst, int count)) region)(src.GetPointer(), dst.GetPointer(),
-                                                           count - 1);
+  return ((int (*)(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count))region)(src, dst, count - 1);
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.h
index 83ebbc1a7a..05f89ce407 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderARM64.h
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h"
 
-class DataReader;
 enum class VertexComponentFormat;
 enum class ComponentFormat;
 enum class ColorFormat;
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ public:
   VertexLoaderARM64(const TVtxDesc& vtx_desc, const VAT& vtx_att);
 
 protected:
-  int RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count) override;
+  int RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count) override;
 
 private:
   u32 m_src_ofs = 0;
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.cpp
index bf4e364147..0ed8fc6439 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 #include "Common/Logging/Log.h"
 #include "Common/MsgHandler.h"
 
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Color.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Normal.h"
@@ -57,15 +56,13 @@ public:
                     b->m_vertex_size, b->m_native_components, b->m_native_vtx_decl.stride);
     }
   }
-  int RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count) override
+  int RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count) override
   {
     buffer_a.resize(count * a->m_native_vtx_decl.stride + 4);
     buffer_b.resize(count * b->m_native_vtx_decl.stride + 4);
 
-    int count_a =
-        a->RunVertices(src, DataReader(buffer_a.data(), buffer_a.data() + buffer_a.size()), count);
-    int count_b =
-        b->RunVertices(src, DataReader(buffer_b.data(), buffer_b.data() + buffer_b.size()), count);
+    int count_a = a->RunVertices(src, buffer_a.data(), count);
+    int count_b = b->RunVertices(src, buffer_b.data(), count);
 
     if (count_a != count_b)
     {
@@ -84,7 +81,7 @@ public:
                     m_VtxDesc, m_VtxAttr);
     }
 
-    memcpy(dst.GetPointer(), buffer_a.data(), count_a * m_native_vtx_decl.stride);
+    memcpy(dst, buffer_a.data(), count_a * m_native_vtx_decl.stride);
     m_numLoadedVertices += count;
     return count_a;
   }
@@ -162,7 +159,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<VertexLoaderBase> VertexLoaderBase::CreateVertexLoader(const TVt
 {
   std::unique_ptr<VertexLoaderBase> loader = nullptr;
 
-  //#define COMPARE_VERTEXLOADERS
+  // #define COMPARE_VERTEXLOADERS
 
 #if defined(_M_X86_64)
   loader = std::make_unique<VertexLoaderX64>(vtx_desc, vtx_attr);
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h
index 11e9136251..26d6f3ff2e 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderBase.h
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 #include "VideoCommon/CPMemory.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/NativeVertexFormat.h"
 
-class DataReader;
-
 class VertexLoaderUID
 {
   std::array<u32, 5> vid{};
@@ -65,7 +63,7 @@ public:
   static std::unique_ptr<VertexLoaderBase> CreateVertexLoader(const TVtxDesc& vtx_desc,
                                                               const VAT& vtx_attr);
   virtual ~VertexLoaderBase() {}
-  virtual int RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count) = 0;
+  virtual int RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count) = 0;
 
   // per loader public state
   PortableVertexDeclaration m_native_vtx_decl{};
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.cpp
index 5725a3738a..c37b4a4fa2 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.cpp
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ static void CheckCPConfiguration(int vtx_attr_group)
 }
 
 template <bool IsPreprocess>
-int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count, DataReader src)
+int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count, const u8* src)
 {
   if (count == 0) [[unlikely]]
     return 0;
@@ -341,8 +341,6 @@ int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int coun
   VertexLoaderBase* loader = RefreshLoader<IsPreprocess>(vtx_attr_group);
 
   int size = count * loader->m_vertex_size;
-  if ((int)src.size() < size) [[unlikely]]
-    return -1;
 
   if constexpr (!IsPreprocess)
   {
@@ -371,7 +369,7 @@ int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int coun
     DataReader dst = g_vertex_manager->PrepareForAdditionalData(
         primitive, count, loader->m_native_vtx_decl.stride, cullall);
 
-    count = loader->RunVertices(src, dst, count);
+    count = loader->RunVertices(src, dst.GetPointer(), count);
 
     g_vertex_manager->AddIndices(primitive, count);
     g_vertex_manager->FlushData(count, loader->m_native_vtx_decl.stride);
@@ -383,9 +381,9 @@ int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int coun
 }
 
 template int RunVertices<false>(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count,
-                                DataReader src);
+                                const u8* src);
 template int RunVertices<true>(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count,
-                               DataReader src);
+                               const u8* src);
 
 NativeVertexFormat* GetCurrentVertexFormat()
 {
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h
index 0396a6762a..b50beae0a5 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #include "Common/EnumMap.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/CPMemory.h"
 
-class DataReader;
 class NativeVertexFormat;
 struct PortableVertexDeclaration;
 
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ NativeVertexFormat* GetUberVertexFormat(const PortableVertexDeclaration& decl);
 
 // Returns -1 if buf_size is insufficient, else the amount of bytes consumed
 template <bool IsPreprocess = false>
-int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count, DataReader src);
+int RunVertices(int vtx_attr_group, OpcodeDecoder::Primitive primitive, int count, const u8* src);
 
 namespace detail
 {
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h
index 34107ed2b9..09a55986b2 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
 
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "Common/Inline.h"
+#include "Common/Swap.h"
 
-extern u8* g_video_buffer_read_ptr;
+extern const u8* g_video_buffer_read_ptr;
 extern u8* g_vertex_manager_write_ptr;
 
 DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE void DataSkip(u32 skip)
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE void DataSkip()
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE T DataPeek(int _uOffset, u8* bufp = g_video_buffer_read_ptr)
+DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE T DataPeek(int _uOffset, const u8* bufp = g_video_buffer_read_ptr)
 {
   T result;
   std::memcpy(&result, &bufp[_uOffset], sizeof(T));
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE T DataPeek(int _uOffset, u8* bufp = g_video_buffer_read_ptr
 }
 
 template <typename T>
-DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE T DataRead(u8** bufp = &g_video_buffer_read_ptr)
+DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE T DataRead(const u8** bufp = &g_video_buffer_read_ptr)
 {
   auto const result = DataPeek<T>(0, *bufp);
   *bufp += sizeof(T);
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE u32 DataReadU32Unswapped()
   return result;
 }
 
-DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE u8* DataGetPosition()
+DOLPHIN_FORCE_INLINE const u8* DataGetPosition()
 {
   return g_video_buffer_read_ptr;
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.cpp
index b1474fd2fa..aec42a41a6 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "Common/x64ABI.h"
 #include "Common/x64Emitter.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/CPMemory.h"
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 
 using namespace Gen;
@@ -582,9 +581,9 @@ void VertexLoaderX64::GenerateVertexLoader()
   m_native_vtx_decl.stride = m_dst_ofs;
 }
 
-int VertexLoaderX64::RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count)
+int VertexLoaderX64::RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count)
 {
   m_numLoadedVertices += count;
-  return ((int (*)(u8*, u8*, int, const void*))region)(src.GetPointer(), dst.GetPointer(), count,
-                                                       memory_base_ptr);
+  return ((int (*)(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count, const void* base))region)(src, dst, count,
+                                                                                memory_base_ptr);
 }
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.h b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.h
index 8650c70c27..377d47d296 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.h
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderX64.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public:
   VertexLoaderX64(const TVtxDesc& vtx_desc, const VAT& vtx_att);
 
 protected:
-  int RunVertices(DataReader src, DataReader dst, int count) override;
+  int RunVertices(const u8* src, u8* dst, int count) override;
 
 private:
   u32 m_src_ofs = 0;
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Normal.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Normal.cpp
index 3b685e0ca4..c713e4c9c6 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Normal.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Normal.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "Common/EnumMap.h"
 
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h"
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ template <typename T, u32 N>
 void ReadIndirect(VertexLoader* loader, const T* data)
 {
   static_assert(3 == N || 9 == N, "N is only sane as 3 or 9!");
-  DataReader dst(g_vertex_manager_write_ptr, nullptr);
 
   for (u32 i = 0; i < N; ++i)
   {
@@ -55,10 +53,9 @@ void ReadIndirect(VertexLoader* loader, const T* data)
       else if (i >= 6 && i < 9)
         VertexLoaderManager::binormal_cache[i - 6] = value;
     }
-    dst.Write(value);
+    DataWrite(value);
   }
 
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
   LOG_NORM();
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Position.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Position.cpp
index 92583e0726..42ebf4985f 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Position.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_Position.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 #include "Common/EnumMap.h"
 #include "Common/Swap.h"
 
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h"
@@ -35,19 +34,15 @@ void Pos_ReadDirect(VertexLoader* loader)
 {
   static_assert(N <= 3, "N > 3 is not sane!");
   const auto scale = loader->m_posScale;
-  DataReader dst(g_vertex_manager_write_ptr, nullptr);
-  DataReader src(g_video_buffer_read_ptr, nullptr);
 
   for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i)
   {
-    const float value = PosScale(src.Read<T>(), scale);
+    const float value = PosScale(DataRead<T>(), scale);
     if (loader->m_remaining < 3)
       VertexLoaderManager::position_cache[loader->m_remaining][i] = value;
-    dst.Write(value);
+    DataWrite(value);
   }
 
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
-  g_video_buffer_read_ptr = src.GetPointer();
   LOG_VTX();
 }
 
@@ -63,17 +58,15 @@ void Pos_ReadIndex(VertexLoader* loader)
       reinterpret_cast<const T*>(VertexLoaderManager::cached_arraybases[CPArray::Position] +
                                  (index * g_main_cp_state.array_strides[CPArray::Position]));
   const auto scale = loader->m_posScale;
-  DataReader dst(g_vertex_manager_write_ptr, nullptr);
 
   for (int i = 0; i < N; ++i)
   {
     const float value = PosScale(Common::FromBigEndian(data[i]), scale);
     if (loader->m_remaining < 3)
       VertexLoaderManager::position_cache[loader->m_remaining][i] = value;
-    dst.Write(value);
+    DataWrite(value);
   }
 
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
   LOG_VTX();
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_TextCoord.cpp b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_TextCoord.cpp
index abe8d36fc4..fcb2982e6f 100644
--- a/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_TextCoord.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/VideoCommon/VertexLoader_TextCoord.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 #include "Common/CommonTypes.h"
 #include "Common/Swap.h"
 
-#include "VideoCommon/DataReader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoader.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderManager.h"
 #include "VideoCommon/VertexLoaderUtils.h"
@@ -36,14 +35,9 @@ template <typename T, int N>
 void TexCoord_ReadDirect(VertexLoader* loader)
 {
   const auto scale = loader->m_tcScale[loader->m_tcIndex];
-  DataReader dst(g_vertex_manager_write_ptr, nullptr);
-  DataReader src(g_video_buffer_read_ptr, nullptr);
 
   for (int i = 0; i != N; ++i)
-    dst.Write(TCScale(src.Read<T>(), scale));
-
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
-  g_video_buffer_read_ptr = src.GetPointer();
+    DataWrite(TCScale(DataRead<T>(), scale));
 
   ++loader->m_tcIndex;
 }
@@ -58,12 +52,10 @@ void TexCoord_ReadIndex(VertexLoader* loader)
       VertexLoaderManager::cached_arraybases[CPArray::TexCoord0 + loader->m_tcIndex] +
       (index * g_main_cp_state.array_strides[CPArray::TexCoord0 + loader->m_tcIndex]));
   const auto scale = loader->m_tcScale[loader->m_tcIndex];
-  DataReader dst(g_vertex_manager_write_ptr, nullptr);
 
   for (int i = 0; i != N; ++i)
-    dst.Write(TCScale(Common::FromBigEndian(data[i]), scale));
+    DataWrite(TCScale(Common::FromBigEndian(data[i]), scale));
 
-  g_vertex_manager_write_ptr = dst.GetPointer();
   ++loader->m_tcIndex;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/UnitTests/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderTest.cpp b/Source/UnitTests/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderTest.cpp
index 5e3898ed28..0ad4252221 100644
--- a/Source/UnitTests/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderTest.cpp
+++ b/Source/UnitTests/VideoCommon/VertexLoaderTest.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ protected:
     if (expected_count == -1)
       expected_count = count;
     ResetPointers();
-    int actual_count = m_loader->RunVertices(m_src, m_dst, count);
+    int actual_count = m_loader->RunVertices(m_src.GetPointer(), m_dst.GetPointer(), count);
     EXPECT_EQ(actual_count, expected_count);
   }