An apparatus and method is described for data processing in a computer system. The apparatus comprises a data processing device having a data processing master, a functionally coupled data processor core, and a functionally coupled data processor slave. Both the data processing master and the data processing slave are coupled to a common bus or common crossbar switch. The data processing device processes the data associated with transfers to or from the data processor slave. System masters will direct transactions that require data processing to the data processing slave, which will indirectly interact with the target memory slave. System masters will direct transactions that do not require data processing, directly to the target memory slave.