An image data compression system, for compressing a frame represented as a plurality of blocks, can include: a lossless compression unit to receive the plurality of blocks and to perform lossless compression thereon resulting in a first code; a lossy compression unit to receive the plurality of blocks and to perform lossy compression thereon resulting in a second code; and a code selection circuit to selectively output one of the first and second codes based upon a figure of merit evaluated for at least one of the first and second codes.