Data processing systems

A method of operating a data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

• a memory system;
• a processor;
• and
• a cache system comprising a cache configured to store data for use by the processor when performing data processing operations, and a data encoder associated with the cache and configured to encode a block of uncompressed data having a particular data size for storing in the memory system in a compressed format;
• the method comprising:
• for an array of data to be output from the processor to the memory system, when the array of data a portion of the array of data has a data size that is equal to the particular data size, or the array of data is able to be combined with one or more other arrays of data already written to the cache to provide a plurality of arrays of data that together have a data size that is equal to the particular data size:
• the processor providing the a portion of the array of data that is equal to the particular data size or the array of data from the processor to the data encoder, bypassing the cache, for encoding as or as part of a block of data having the particular data size.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer software code which when executing on a data processor performs a method of operating a data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

• a memory system;
• a processor;
• and
• a cache system comprising a cache configured to store data for use by the processor when performing data processing operations, and a data encoder associated with the cache and configured to encode a block of uncompressed data having a particular data size for storing in the memory system in a compressed format;
• the method comprising:
• for an array of data to be output from the processor to the memory system, when the array of data a portion of the array of data has a data size that is equal to the particular data size, or the array of data is able to be combined with one or more other arrays of data already written to the cache to provide a plurality of arrays of data that together have a data size that is equal to the particular data size:
• the processor providing the a portion of the array of data that is equal to the particular data size or the array of data from the processor to the data encoder, bypassing the cache, for encoding as or as part of a block of data having the particular data size.