Method and system for fast initialization of a memory unit

Embodiments of a method for operating a computer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the memory unit has a non-volatile memory array and processing logic and the non-volatile memory array stores initialization data that is used by the processing logic to perform input/output operations of the memory unit. The method involves storing the initialization data in retention registers within the memory unit, wherein the retention registers are separate from the non-volatile memory array and retain data while the memory unit is power gated, using the stored initialization data in the retention registers to initialize the memory unit upon exiting the power gating.