Graphics display list handler and method

The invention relates generally to graphics processors and more particularly to graphics devices employing display command list handling mechanisms with another processor, such as a host processor. A graphics display command list handler and method requests allocation of memory, such as system memory, in the form of a circular FIFO which stores the display command list as a memory display list (MDL), such as a host memory display list. A processor, such as a graphics processor, communicates a host memory display list read pointer to the host processor to facilitate display list signaling by the graphics processor. The host processor (or other processor) maintains a write pointer which points to a last host memory entry in the display list. The read pointer is maintained by the graphics processor and written back to the host processor.