ATOMIC MEMORY OPERATION CACHE PROTOCOL WITH OPPORTUNISTIC COMBINING

An atomic memory operation cache comprises a cache memory operable to cache atomic memory operation data, a write timer, and a cache controller. The cache controller is operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon expiration of the write timer, and is further operable to update main memory with one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries stored in the cache memory upon eviction of the one or more dirty atomic memory operation cache entries from the cache memory.