A memory controller includes a command queue and an arbiter for selecting entries from the command queue for transmission to a DRAM. The arbiter transacts streaks of consecutive read commands and streaks of consecutive write commands. The arbiter transacts a streak for at least a minimum burst length based on a number of commands of a designated type available to be selected by the arbiter. Following the minimum burst length, the arbiter decides to start a new streak of commands of a different type based on a first set of one or more conditions indicating intra-burst efficiency.