diff --git a/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp b/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
index 5d0c5d6b19..a1fc1b44a7 100644
--- a/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ struct PacketTagType
 	u32 command;
 	u32 data[3];
 };
-
+extern bool renderswitch;
 int mtgsThreadObject::Callback()
 {
 	Console::WriteLn("MTGS > Thread Started, Opening GS Plugin...");
@@ -479,8 +479,11 @@ int mtgsThreadObject::Callback()
 	memcpy_aligned( m_gsMem, PS2MEM_GS, sizeof(m_gsMem) );
 	GSsetBaseMem( m_gsMem );
 	GSirqCallback( NULL );
-
-	m_returncode = GSopen((void *)&pDsp, "PCSX2", 1);
+	
+	//tells GSdx to go into dx9 sw if "renderswitch" is set. Abusing the isMultiThread int
+	//for that so we don't need a new callback
+	if (!renderswitch) m_returncode = GSopen((void *)&pDsp, "PCSX2", 1);
+	else if (renderswitch) m_returncode = GSopen((void *)&pDsp, "PCSX2", 2);
 
 	Console::WriteLn( "MTGS > GSopen Finished, return code: 0x%x", params m_returncode );
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/windows/WinSysExec.cpp b/pcsx2/windows/WinSysExec.cpp
index 7d0ddf5ec3..0c966f237e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/windows/WinSysExec.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/windows/WinSysExec.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 static bool sinit = false;
 bool UseGui = true;
 bool nDisableSC = false; // screensaver
+bool renderswitch = 0;
 
 
 // This instance is not modified by command line overrides so
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ namespace HostGui
 
 			case VK_F1: case VK_F2:  case VK_F3:  case VK_F4:
 			case VK_F5: case VK_F6:  case VK_F7:  case VK_F8:
-			case VK_F9: case VK_F10: case VK_F11: case VK_F12:
+			case VK_F9: case VK_F10: case VK_F12: 
 				try
 				{
 					ProcessFKeys(ev->key-VK_F1 + 1, shiftkey);
@@ -441,7 +442,25 @@ namespace HostGui
 					SysEndExecution();
 				}
 			break;
-
+			
+			case VK_F11: //gsdx "on the fly" renderer switching 
+				if (!renderswitch) {
+					StateRecovery::MakeGsOnly();
+					g_EmulationInProgress = false;
+					ClosePlugins( 1 );
+					renderswitch = true;	//go to dx9 sw
+					StateRecovery::Recover();
+					HostGui::BeginExecution(); //also sets g_EmulationInProgress to true later
+				}
+				else {
+					StateRecovery::MakeGsOnly();
+					g_EmulationInProgress = false;
+					ClosePlugins( 1 );
+					renderswitch = false;	//return to default renderer
+					StateRecovery::Recover();
+					HostGui::BeginExecution(); //also sets g_EmulationInProgress to true later
+				}
+				break;
 			case VK_TAB:
 				CycleFrameLimit(0);
 				break;
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp b/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
index 062fbd24c2..996454189a 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
@@ -154,9 +154,15 @@ static INT32 GSopen(void* dsp, char* title, int mt, int renderer)
 EXPORT_C_(INT32) GSopen(void* dsp, char* title, int mt)
 {
 	AFX_MANAGE_STATE(AfxGetStaticModuleState());
-
-	int renderer = AfxGetApp()->GetProfileInt(_T("Settings"), _T("renderer"), 0);
-
+	int renderer;
+	
+	if (mt == 2){ //pcsx2 sent a switch renderer request
+		renderer = 1; //DX9 sw
+		mt = 1;	
+	}
+	else { //normal init
+		renderer = AfxGetApp()->GetProfileInt(_T("Settings"), _T("renderer"), 0);
+	}
 	return GSopen(dsp, title, mt, renderer);
 }