A method for efficiently processing image data for display on a computer monitor is provided. The method initiates with reading image data in a compressed format into a memory associated with the computer. Then, at least one scaled copy of the image data is generated in the compressed format. Next, a display scale is determined for an image to be presented on a computer monitor. If the magnification is less than 100% of an image scale associated with the image data, then, either the image data or the at least one scaled copy of the image data is determined as being closest in magnification to the display scale, without being less than the display scale, to provide a closest in magnification image data. Next, the closest in magnification image data in the compressed format is processed. Then, the processed image data is displayed. The method is capable of displaying a portion of the image at any magnification. An integrated circuit chip and a system for efficiently processing image data for display are also provided.