System and method for dynamically allocating memory to hold pending write requests

Abstract

A processing system employs a memory module as a temporary write buffer to store write requests when a write buffer at a memory controller reaches a threshold capacity, and de-allocates the temporary write buffer when the write buffer capacity falls below the threshold. Upon receiving a write request, the memory controller stores the write request in a write buffer until the write request can be written to main memory. The memory controller can temporarily extend the memory controller's write buffer to the memory module, thereby accommodating temporary periods of high memory activity without requiring a large permanent write buffer at the memory controller.