---
title: Reference — how Meridian works | Meridian
description: Meridian internals reference: translation method, Vulkan checks, AVX2 CPU requirements, and the shader pipeline cache.
canonical: https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference
updated: 2026-10-13
---

# Reference

The engineering shelf: method, Vulkan, CPU, and shader-cache references behind every rating.

## Facts (2026-10-13)

- **Method:** x86-64 translation + Vulkan 1.3 renderer
- **CPU floor:** AVX2 required, no fallback
- **GPU floor:** Vulkan 1.3 with current drivers
- **Cache:** Per-title pipeline cache, first run warms

## What lives here

Reference explains the machinery behind the ratings. Start with [How it works](/reference/how-ps5-emulator-works) for the translation model, then the three acceptance gates: [Vulkan check](/reference/vulkan-check), [CPU and AVX2](/reference/cpu-avx2), and [Shader cache](/reference/shader-cache).

Every Library rating assumes these gates pass. A title that misbehaves on a machine failing any gate is not a counterexample — it is an untested configuration.

The free build at [Download Meridian](/download) runs the same checks the lab runs; there is no separate lab binary.

## How to use this shelf

- Read How it works once for vocabulary: translation, PUP, SPIR-V, pipeline.

- Run the Vulkan and CPU checks before reporting any defect.

- Learn the shader-cache warm-up pattern so first-run hitches are not misreported as bugs.

## FAQ

### Is Meridian an interpreter?

No. It translates PS5 x86-64 code and renders through Vulkan 1.3 — see [How it works](/reference/how-ps5-emulator-works).

### Why is AVX2 mandatory?

The translation layer emits AVX2 throughout hot paths. Without it there is no fallback — see [CPU and AVX2](/reference/cpu-avx2).

### Do I need to understand SPIR-V?

Only the RDNA2-to-SPIR-V mapping at a high level. Details are in [RDNA2 and SPIR-V](/lexicon/rdna2-spir-v).

## Related

- [How it works](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference/how-ps5-emulator-works)
- [Vulkan check](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference/vulkan-check)
- [CPU and AVX2](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference/cpu-avx2)
- [Shader cache](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference/shader-cache)
- [RDNA2 and SPIR-V](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/lexicon/rdna2-spir-v)

## Download

Free Windows app: [Download Meridian](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/download)

Markdown mirror: https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference.md