METHOD FOR STEERING DMA WRITE REQUESTS TO CACHE MEMORY

A system may include a processor which may include a cache memory and a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, a peripheral device on an I/O expansion bus, and a bus interface coupled to the I/O expansion bus and the processor. The bus controller may determine if data packets sent from the peripheral device to the processor include a DMA write instruction to the cache memory with an optional desired cache location. Upon determining a DMA write instruction to the cache memory is included in the data packet, the bus controller may format the data in the data packet for storage in the cache and either receive the desired cache location or determine an appropriate location within the cache to store the formatted data. The bus controller may determine an alternate location within the cache if the desired location within the cache cannot accept more data from the peripheral device.