Method and system for processing direct memory access (DMA) requests in a peripheral device is provided. The method includes generating a DMA request to transfer information to/from a host system, wherein a size of data transfer is specified in the DMA request and is based on a minimum data transfer size; and submitting the DMA request to an arbitration module to gain access to a bus for transferring the information and while the arbitration module arbitrates between pending DMA requests, the DMA module monitors status from plural buffer slots and before the DMA request is granted, the DMA module modifies the size of data transfer based on available buffer slots.