A frame buffer for a spatial light modulator in a image display system. The frame buffer is comprised of video random access memory devices (VRAM's) having sections of VRAM rows that receive a value from one bit position of all display rows. An allocation circuit provides addresses for filling said VRAM rows when data is being written to the frame buffer, updates an address memory as VRAM rows are emptied, and provides addresses for mapping VRAM rows to display rows of the spatial light modulator when data is being read out of the frame buffer.