Abstract: A method for handling different of types of data bit errors in a computer system. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of storing a data line in a first storage location. The method also includes the step of retrieving the data line from the first storage location. Data bit errors in the data line are detected and the data line is marked as containing a data bit error and stored in a storage location if the data line is not to be used immediately by a requesting process; otherwise error handling is performed by halting the requesting process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data between bus agents in a computer system including a bus operating at a bus clock rate. The method includes the step of receiving a transaction request from a requesting agent including an indication of a plurality of data widths the requesting agent processes. In response to the transaction request, a data transmission is configured in accordance with a data width that both the requesting agent and a responding agent process. The data transmission is performed asynchronously with respect to the bus clock if the data width is one of a first plurality of data widths, otherwise, the data transmission is performed synchronously with respect to the bus clock.