A method and apparatus for a multi-function direct memory access core are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the reading of a direct memory access (DMA) descriptor having associated DMA data to identify at least one micro-command. Once the micro-command is identified, the DMA data is processed according to the micro-command during DMA transfer of the data. In one embodiment, a DMA engine performs an operation on the DMA data in transit within the DMA controller according to the identified micro-command. Hence, by defining a primitive set of micro-commands, the DMA engine within, for example, an input/output (I/O) controller hub (ICH), can be used to perform a large number of complex operations on data when data is passing through the ICH without introducing latency into the DMA transfer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.