Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a variable iteration data processing system is disclosed that includes at least a first detector, a second detector, a decoder, and a queuing buffer. The first detector is operable to perform a data detection on an input data set at a first time. The decoder receives a derivation of an output from the first detector and performs a decoding process. Where the decoding process fails to converge, the decoder output is passed to the second detector for a subsequent detection and decoding process at a second time.