diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
index e194e59c17..f31149bae8 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
@@ -402,6 +402,14 @@ void cdvdReloadElfInfo(wxString elfoverride)
 					)
 				);
 				//Console.Error( "Playstation1 game discs are not supported by PCSX2." );
+
+			// PCSX2 currently only recognizes *.elf executables in proper PS2 format.
+			// To support different PSX titles in the console title and for savestates, this code bypasses all the detection,
+			// simply using the exe name, stripped of problematic characters.
+			wxString fname = elfpath.AfterLast('\\');
+			wxString fname2 = fname.BeforeFirst(';');
+			DiscSerial = fname2;
+			Console.SetTitle(DiscSerial);
 			return;
 		}
 		
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CdRom.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CdRom.cpp
index 5b6a14c11d..58b11a73b4 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CdRom.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CdRom.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ static void ReadTrack() {
 	cdr.Prev[2] = itob(cdr.SetSector[2]);
 
 	CDVD_LOG("KEY *** %x:%x:%x", cdr.Prev[0], cdr.Prev[1], cdr.Prev[2]);
+	if (EmuConfig.CdvdVerboseReads)
+		DevCon.WriteLn("CD Read Sector %x", msf_to_lsn(cdr.SetSector));
 	cdr.RErr = DoCDVDreadTrack(msf_to_lsn(cdr.SetSector), CDVD_MODE_2340);
 }
 
@@ -912,7 +914,9 @@ void psxDma3(u32 madr, u32 bcr, u32 chcr) {
 		case 0x11000000:
 		case 0x11400100:
 			if (cdr.Readed == 0) {
-				CDVD_LOG("*** DMA 3 *** NOT READY");
+				DevCon.Warning("*** DMA 3 *** NOT READY");
+				HW_DMA3_CHCR &= ~0x01000000; //hack
+				psxDmaInterrupt(3); //hack
 				return;
 			}
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/IopDma.cpp b/pcsx2/IopDma.cpp
index 1613f88e81..ce76c41851 100644
--- a/pcsx2/IopDma.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/IopDma.cpp
@@ -134,11 +134,13 @@ void spu2DMA7Irq()
 #ifndef DISABLE_PSX_GPU_DMAS
 void psxDma2(u32 madr, u32 bcr, u32 chcr)		// GPU
 {
-	DevCon.Warning("SIF2 IOP CHCR = %x MADR = %x BCR = %x first 16bits %x", chcr, madr, bcr, iopMemRead16(madr));
+	//DevCon.Warning("SIF2 IOP CHCR = %x MADR = %x BCR = %x first 16bits %x", chcr, madr, bcr, iopMemRead16(madr));
 	sif2.iop.busy = true;
 	sif2.iop.end = false;
 	//SIF2Dma();
-	dmaSIF2();
+	// todo: psxmode: dmaSIF2 appears to interface with PGPU but everything is already handled without it.
+	// it slows down psxmode if it's run.
+	//dmaSIF2();
 	
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/R5900.cpp b/pcsx2/R5900.cpp
index e88c7cbaa0..3b6ab593a1 100644
--- a/pcsx2/R5900.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/R5900.cpp
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ void __fastcall eeloadHook()
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!g_GameStarted && disctype == 2 && elfname == discelf)
+	if (!g_GameStarted && (disctype == 2 || disctype == 1) && elfname == discelf)
 		g_GameLoading = true;
 }