diff --git a/Utilities/Config.cpp b/Utilities/Config.cpp
index fbf15c9ccc..77a4189440 100644
--- a/Utilities/Config.cpp
+++ b/Utilities/Config.cpp
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ namespace cfg
 		}
 	}
 
-	_base::_base(type _type, node* owner, const std::string& name, bool dynamic)
-		: m_type(_type), m_dynamic(dynamic), m_name(name)
+	_base::_base(type _type, node* owner, std::string name, bool dynamic)
+		: m_type(_type), m_dynamic(dynamic), m_name(std::move(name))
 	{
 		for (const auto& node : owner->m_nodes)
 		{
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace cfg
 		owner->m_nodes.emplace_back(this);
 	}
 
-	bool _base::from_string(const std::string&, bool)
+	bool _base::from_string(std::string_view, bool)
 	{
 		cfg_log.fatal("cfg::_base::from_string() purecall");
 		return false;
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ std::vector<std::string> cfg::make_int_range(s64 min, s64 max)
 	return {std::to_string(min), std::to_string(max)};
 }
 
-bool try_to_int64(s64* out, const std::string& value, s64 min, s64 max)
+bool try_to_int64(s64* out, std::string_view value, s64 min, s64 max)
 {
 	s64 result;
 	const char* start = &value.front();
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ std::vector<std::string> cfg::make_uint_range(u64 min, u64 max)
 	return {std::to_string(min), std::to_string(max)};
 }
 
-bool try_to_uint64(u64* out, const std::string& value, u64 min, u64 max)
+bool try_to_uint64(u64* out, std::string_view value, u64 min, u64 max)
 {
 	u64 result;
 	const char* start = &value.front();
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ bool try_to_uint64(u64* out, const std::string& value, u64 min, u64 max)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool cfg::try_to_enum_value(u64* out, decltype(&fmt_class_string<int>::format) func, const std::string& value)
+bool cfg::try_to_enum_value(u64* out, decltype(&fmt_class_string<int>::format) func, std::string_view value)
 {
 	u64 max = umax;
 
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ void cfg::decode(const YAML::Node& data, cfg::_base& rhs, bool dynamic)
 			return;
 		}
 
-		std::map<std::string, std::string> values;
+		map_of_type<std::string> values;
 
 		for (const auto& pair : data)
 		{
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ void cfg::decode(const YAML::Node& data, cfg::_base& rhs, bool dynamic)
 			return; // ???
 		}
 
-		std::map<std::string, logs::level> values;
+		map_of_type<logs::level> values;
 
 		for (const auto& pair : data)
 		{
@@ -377,9 +377,9 @@ std::string cfg::node::to_string() const
 	return {out.c_str(), out.size()};
 }
 
-bool cfg::node::from_string(const std::string& value, bool dynamic)
+bool cfg::node::from_string(std::string_view value, bool dynamic)
 {
-	auto [result, error] = yaml_load(value);
+	auto [result, error] = yaml_load(std::string(value));
 
 	if (error.empty())
 	{
@@ -414,26 +414,31 @@ void cfg::set_entry::from_default()
 	m_set = {};
 }
 
-std::string cfg::map_entry::get_value(const std::string& key)
+std::string cfg::map_entry::get_value(std::string_view key)
 {
-	return m_map.contains(key) ? m_map.at(key) : "";
+	if (auto it = m_map.find(key); it != m_map.end())
+	{
+		return it->second;
+	}
+
+	return {};
 }
 
-void cfg::map_entry::set_value(const std::string& key, const std::string& value)
+void cfg::map_entry::set_value(std::string key, std::string value)
 {
-	m_map[key] = value;
+	m_map[std::move(key)] = std::move(value);
 }
 
-void cfg::map_entry::set_map(std::map<std::string, std::string>&& map)
+void cfg::map_entry::set_map(map_of_type<std::string>&& map)
 {
 	m_map = std::move(map);
 }
 
-void cfg::map_entry::erase(const std::string& key)
+void cfg::map_entry::erase(std::string_view key)
 {
-	if (m_map.contains(key))
+	if (auto it = m_map.find(key); it != m_map.end())
 	{
-		m_map.erase(key);
+		m_map.erase(it);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -442,7 +447,7 @@ void cfg::map_entry::from_default()
 	set_map({});
 }
 
-void cfg::log_entry::set_map(std::map<std::string, logs::level>&& map)
+void cfg::log_entry::set_map(map_of_type<logs::level>&& map)
 {
 	m_map = std::move(map);
 }
diff --git a/Utilities/Config.h b/Utilities/Config.h
index c92793b4a0..1ca8bbf75d 100644
--- a/Utilities/Config.h
+++ b/Utilities/Config.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace cfg
 	std::vector<std::string> make_uint_range(u64 min, u64 max);
 
 	// Internal hack
-	bool try_to_enum_value(u64* out, decltype(&fmt_class_string<int>::format) func, const std::string&);
+	bool try_to_enum_value(u64* out, decltype(&fmt_class_string<int>::format) func, std::string_view);
 
 	// Internal hack
 	std::vector<std::string> try_to_enum_list(decltype(&fmt_class_string<int>::format) func);
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace cfg
 		_base(type _type);
 
 		// Owned entry constructor
-		_base(type _type, class node* owner, const std::string& name, bool dynamic);
+		_base(type _type, class node* owner, std::string name, bool dynamic);
 
 	public:
 		_base(const _base&) = delete;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ namespace cfg
 		}
 
 		// Try to convert from string (optional)
-		virtual bool from_string(const std::string&, bool /*dynamic*/ = false);
+		virtual bool from_string(std::string_view, bool /*dynamic*/ = false);
 
 		// Get string list (optional)
 		virtual std::vector<std::string> to_list() const
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ namespace cfg
 		}
 
 		// Registered node constructor
-		node(node* owner, const std::string& name, bool dynamic = true)
-			: _base(type::node, owner, name, dynamic)
+		node(node* owner, std::string name, bool dynamic = true)
+			: _base(type::node, owner, std::move(name), dynamic)
 		{
 		}
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ namespace cfg
 		std::string to_string() const override;
 
 		// Deserialize node
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool dynamic = false) override;
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool dynamic = false) override;
 
 		// Set default values
 		void from_default() override;
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ namespace cfg
 	public:
 		bool def;
 
-		_bool(node* owner, const std::string& name, bool def = false, bool dynamic = false)
-			: _base(type::_bool, owner, name, dynamic)
+		_bool(node* owner, std::string name, bool def = false, bool dynamic = false)
+			: _base(type::_bool, owner, std::move(name), dynamic)
 			, m_value(def)
 			, def(def)
 		{
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ namespace cfg
 			return m_value ? "true" : "false";
 		}
 
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
 		{
 			if (value == "false")
 				m_value = false;
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ namespace cfg
 			return result; // TODO: ???
 		}
 
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
 		{
 			u64 result;
 
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ namespace cfg
 			return std::to_string(m_value);
 		}
 
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
 		{
 			s64 result;
 			if (try_to_int64(&result, value, Min, Max))
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ namespace cfg
 			return std::to_string(m_value);
 		}
 
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
 		{
 			u64 result;
 			if (try_to_uint64(&result, value, Min, Max))
@@ -430,9 +430,9 @@ namespace cfg
 			return *m_value.load().get();
 		}
 
-		bool from_string(const std::string& value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
+		bool from_string(std::string_view value, bool /*dynamic*/ = false) override
 		{
-			m_value = value;
+			m_value = std::string(value);
 			return true;
 		}
 	};
@@ -474,9 +474,12 @@ namespace cfg
 		}
 	};
 
+	template<typename T>
+	using map_of_type = std::map<std::string, T, std::less<>>;
+
 	class map_entry final : public _base
 	{
-		std::map<std::string, std::string> m_map{};
+		map_of_type<std::string> m_map{};
 
 	public:
 		map_entry(node* owner, const std::string& name)
@@ -484,24 +487,24 @@ namespace cfg
 		{
 		}
 
-		const std::map<std::string, std::string>& get_map() const
+		const map_of_type<std::string>& get_map() const
 		{
 			return m_map;
 		}
 
-		std::string get_value(const std::string& key);
+		std::string get_value(std::string_view key);
 
-		void set_value(const std::string& key, const std::string& value);
-		void set_map(std::map<std::string, std::string>&& map);
+		void set_value(std::string key, std::string value);
+		void set_map(map_of_type<std::string>&& map);
 
-		void erase(const std::string& key);
+		void erase(std::string_view key);
 
 		void from_default() override;
 	};
 
 	class log_entry final : public _base
 	{
-		std::map<std::string, logs::level> m_map{};
+		map_of_type<logs::level> m_map{};
 
 	public:
 		log_entry(node* owner, const std::string& name)
@@ -509,12 +512,12 @@ namespace cfg
 		{
 		}
 
-		const std::map<std::string, logs::level>& get_map() const
+		const map_of_type<logs::level>& get_map() const
 		{
 			return m_map;
 		}
 
-		void set_map(std::map<std::string, logs::level>&& map);
+		void set_map(map_of_type<logs::level>&& map);
 
 		void from_default() override;
 	};
diff --git a/Utilities/StrUtil.h b/Utilities/StrUtil.h
index f305fecf1d..13d4e50ca2 100644
--- a/Utilities/StrUtil.h
+++ b/Utilities/StrUtil.h
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <string_view>
 
+#include "util/types.hpp"
+
 #ifdef _WIN32
 std::string wchar_to_utf8(const wchar_t *src);
 std::string wchar_path_to_ansi_path(const std::wstring& src);
@@ -22,17 +24,17 @@ inline void strcpy_trunc(D& dst, const T& src)
 }
 
 // Convert string to signed integer
-bool try_to_int64(s64* out, const std::string& value, s64 min, s64 max);
+bool try_to_int64(s64* out, std::string_view value, s64 min, s64 max);
 
 // Convert string to unsigned integer
-bool try_to_uint64(u64* out, const std::string& value, u64 min, u64 max);
+bool try_to_uint64(u64* out, std::string_view value, u64 min, u64 max);
 
 namespace fmt
 {
 	std::string replace_all(std::string_view src, std::string_view from, std::string_view to, usz count = -1);
 
 	template <usz list_size>
-	std::string replace_all(std::string src, const std::pair<std::string, std::string> (&list)[list_size])
+	std::string replace_all(std::string src, const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> (&list)[list_size])
 	{
 		for (usz pos = 0; pos < src.length(); ++pos)
 		{
@@ -41,11 +43,14 @@ namespace fmt
 				const usz comp_length = list[i].first.length();
 
 				if (src.length() - pos < comp_length)
+				{
 					continue;
+				}
 
 				if (src.substr(pos, comp_length) == list[i].first)
 				{
-					src = (pos ? src.substr(0, pos) + list[i].second : list[i].second) + src.substr(pos + comp_length);
+					src.erase(pos, comp_length);
+					src.insert(pos, list[i].second.data(), list[i].second.length());
 					pos += list[i].second.length() - 1;
 					break;
 				}
@@ -56,7 +61,7 @@ namespace fmt
 	}
 
 	template <usz list_size>
-	std::string replace_all(std::string src, const std::pair<std::string, std::function<std::string()>> (&list)[list_size])
+	std::string replace_all(std::string src, const std::pair<std::string_view, std::function<std::string()>> (&list)[list_size])
 	{
 		for (usz pos = 0; pos < src.length(); ++pos)
 		{
@@ -65,12 +70,16 @@ namespace fmt
 				const usz comp_length = list[i].first.length();
 
 				if (src.length() - pos < comp_length)
+				{
 					continue;
+				}
 
 				if (src.substr(pos, comp_length) == list[i].first)
 				{
-					src = (pos ? src.substr(0, pos) + list[i].second() : list[i].second()) + src.substr(pos + comp_length);
-					pos += list[i].second().length() - 1;
+					src.erase(pos, comp_length);
+					auto replacement = list[i].second();
+					src.insert(pos, replacement);
+					pos += replacement.length() - 1;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/GL/GLCompute.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/GL/GLCompute.cpp
index ff19922581..369c4bf119 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/GL/GLCompute.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/GL/GLCompute.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ namespace gl
 			"	%vars"
 			"\n";
 
-		const std::pair<std::string, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
+		const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
 		{
 			{ "%loc", std::to_string(GL_COMPUTE_BUFFER_SLOT(0)) },
 			{ "%ws", std::to_string(optimal_group_size) },
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryFragmentProgram.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryFragmentProgram.cpp
index 8b8901aae3..c3b7bc7237 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryFragmentProgram.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryFragmentProgram.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ std::string CgBinaryDisasm::GetCondDisAsm() const
 
 std::string CgBinaryDisasm::FormatDisAsm(const std::string& code)
 {
-	const std::pair<std::string, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
+	const std::pair<std::string_view, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
 	{
 		{ "$$",    []() -> std::string { return "$"; } },
 		{ "$0",    [this]{ return GetSrcDisAsm<SRC0>(src0); } },
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryVertexProgram.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryVertexProgram.cpp
index e02066b754..304a1fd166 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryVertexProgram.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/CgBinaryVertexProgram.cpp
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ std::string CgBinaryDisasm::GetTexDisasm()
 
 std::string CgBinaryDisasm::FormatDisasm(const std::string& code)
 {
-	const std::pair<std::string, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
+	const std::pair<std::string_view, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
 	{
 		{ "$$",  []() -> std::string { return "$"; } },
 		{ "$0",  [this]{ return GetSRCDisasm(0); } },
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/FragmentProgramDecompiler.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/FragmentProgramDecompiler.cpp
index 551c1257d8..e56e837680 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/FragmentProgramDecompiler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/FragmentProgramDecompiler.cpp
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ bool FragmentProgramDecompiler::DstExpectsSca() const
 
 std::string FragmentProgramDecompiler::Format(const std::string& code, bool ignore_redirects)
 {
-	const std::pair<std::string, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
+	const std::pair<std::string_view, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
 	{
 		{ "$$", []() -> std::string { return "$"; } },
 		{ "$0", [this]() -> std::string {return GetSRC<SRC0>(src0);} },
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ std::string FragmentProgramDecompiler::Format(const std::string& code, bool igno
 		{
 			//Redirect parameter 0 to the x2d temp register for TEXBEM
 			//TODO: Organize this a little better
-			std::pair<std::string, std::string> repl[] = { { "$0", "x2d" } };
+			std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> repl[] = { { "$0", "x2d" } };
 			std::string result = fmt::replace_all(code, repl);
 
 			return fmt::replace_all(result, repl_list);
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/GLSLCommon.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/GLSLCommon.cpp
index f1b920d047..75a037d577 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/GLSLCommon.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/GLSLCommon.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ namespace program_common
 		"	return result;\n"
 		"}\n\n";
 
-		std::pair<std::string, std::string> replacements[] =
+		std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> replacements[] =
 			{std::make_pair("$T", wide_vector_type),
 			 std::make_pair("$I", input_coord)};
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/VertexProgramDecompiler.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/VertexProgramDecompiler.cpp
index 6dc3cb23e2..3a25240f70 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/VertexProgramDecompiler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Program/VertexProgramDecompiler.cpp
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ std::string VertexProgramDecompiler::GetTex()
 
 std::string VertexProgramDecompiler::Format(const std::string& code)
 {
-	const std::pair<std::string, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
+	const std::pair<std::string_view, std::function<std::string()>> repl_list[] =
 	{
 		{ "$$", []() -> std::string { return "$"; } },
 		{ "$0", std::bind(std::mem_fn(&VertexProgramDecompiler::GetSRC), this, 0) },
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.cpp
index 0f8681e6c9..e3f3560cdd 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.cpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ namespace vk
 			"\n";
 
 		const auto parameters_size = utils::align(push_constants_size, 16) / 16;
-		const std::pair<std::string, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
+		const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
 		{
 			{ "%ws", std::to_string(optimal_group_size) },
 			{ "%ks", std::to_string(kernel_size) },
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ namespace vk
 			"	}\n"
 			"}\n";
 
-		const std::pair<std::string, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
+		const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
 		{
 			{ "%ws", std::to_string(optimal_group_size) },
 		};
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.h b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.h
index 30f15c5cf1..8c1ebbfffd 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKCompute.h
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ namespace vk
 				}
 			}
 
-			const std::pair<std::string, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
+			const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
 			{
 				{ "%ws", std::to_string(optimal_group_size) },
 				{ "%_wordcount", std::to_string(sizeof(_BlockType) / 4) },
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKResolveHelper.h b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKResolveHelper.h
index 4a59127f11..30fd6534a2 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKResolveHelper.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/VK/VKResolveHelper.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ namespace vk
 		virtual ~cs_resolve_base()
 		{}
 
+		// FIXME: move body to cpp
 		void build(const std::string& kernel, const std::string& format_prefix, int direction)
 		{
 			create();
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ namespace vk
 				break;
 			}
 
-			const std::pair<std::string, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
+			const std::pair<std::string_view, std::string> syntax_replace[] =
 			{
 				{ "%wx", std::to_string(cs_wave_x) },
 				{ "%wy", std::to_string(cs_wave_y) },
diff --git a/rpcs3/util/logs.cpp b/rpcs3/util/logs.cpp
index 4ed46e7a2b..b7da7a2398 100644
--- a/rpcs3/util/logs.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/util/logs.cpp
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ namespace logs
 		}
 	}
 
-	void set_channel_levels(const std::map<std::string, logs::level>& map)
+	void set_channel_levels(const std::map<std::string, logs::level, std::less<>>& map)
 	{
 		for (auto&& pair : map)
 		{
diff --git a/rpcs3/util/logs.hpp b/rpcs3/util/logs.hpp
index daaded35fd..0bc6e31485 100644
--- a/rpcs3/util/logs.hpp
+++ b/rpcs3/util/logs.hpp
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ namespace logs
 	level get_level(const std::string&);
 
 	// Log level control: set specific channels to level::fatal
-	void set_channel_levels(const std::map<std::string, logs::level>& map);
+	void set_channel_levels(const std::map<std::string, logs::level, std::less<>>& map);
 
 	// Get all registered log channels
 	std::vector<std::string> get_channels();