Techniques for initializing an arbitrary portion of memory with an arbitrary pattern includes using a memory controller for performing sequenced read and write operations. The memory controller receives address data, length data and pattern data on a data bus connected to a processor. The address data indicates a location in memory. The length data indicates an amount of memory to be initialized. The pattern data indicates a particular series of bits that is much shorter than the amount of memory indicated by the length data. The memory controller performs multiple write operations on memory beginning at a first location based on the address data and ending at a second location based on the length data. Each write operation writes the pattern data to a current location in memory, thereby initializing the arbitrary portion of memory with an arbitrary pattern based on the pattern data.