SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A DISK CONTROLLER MEMORY ARCHITECTURE

The present invention is related to systems and methods for a disk controller memory. In one embodiment, a mass storage device is interfaced to a computer via an I/O bus using a mass storage device controller. The mass storage device controller includes a processor and a buffer memory configured to receive data from the mass storage device and the I/O bus. In addition, the controller includes a memory circuit coupled to the buffer memory and the processor. The memory circuit is configured to operate as a first-in-first-out memory during at least a first transfer of data between the memory circuit and the buffer memory. For example, the memory may be configured to operate as either as a random access memory or a FIFO during at least a first transfer of data between the memory circuit and the processor.