A unifying memory controller (UMC) to send and receive data to and from a local host. The UMC also may manage data placement and retrieval by using an address mapper. The UMC may also selectively provide power to a plurality of memory locations. The UMC may also manage data placement based on a policy that can make use of a property stored in the metadata storage location. The property may be a property describing the data that is being managed. The UMC also may use its own local cache that may store copies of data managed by the circuit.