A system for performing energy-efficient computing reduces the amount of data that is transferred between a processor and an external memory device. The processor and the external memory device are equipped with first and second near data processing control units (NCUs), respectively, that coordinate offloading of preselected subprocesses from the processor to a first processing circuit disposed on or near the external memory device. When the processor is performing one of these preselected processes, the first NCU transmits commands and memory addresses to the second NCU. The processing circuit on or near the memory device performs the subprocess or subprocesses and the result is forwarded by the second NCU to the first NCU, which forwards it to the processor to complete the process.