Abstract: A system includes a first and second integrated circuit and associated interconnect. The first integrated circuit is a memory component and includes a RAM, one or more configuration registers, and associated control logic. The second integrated circuit is a memory controller that is a master to the memory component. The behavior of the memory component, including selection from a number of different operating modes, is controllable via configuration register mode bits. The various modes include several transfer-length modes, where each mode corresponds to data transfers of a predetermined length. Based on the mode selection specified by the mode bits, the controller determines the length of the data transfers.