This disclosure describes efficient communication of surface texture data between system on a chip (SOC) integrated circuits. An example system includes a first integrated circuit, and at least one second integrated circuit communicatively coupled to the first integrated circuit by a communication interface. The first integrated circuit, upon determining that surface texture data of a frame to be rendered for display by the second SoC integrated circuit is to be updated, (a) transmits the surface texture data in one or more update packets to the second integrated circuit using the communication interface, and (b) transmits a command to the second integrated circuit indicating that the surface texture data of the frame has been updated using the communication interface. The second integrated circuit, upon receipt of the command, (a) sets a pointer to a location in the display buffer storing the surface texture data of the frame, and (b) renders the surface texture data of the frame for display on a display device.