A method and apparatus for an interface architecture for flexible and extensible media processing. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include on-chip interconnection logic, such as, for example, a crossbar. The apparatus, which in one embodiment is a chipset, may include at least one on-chip, functional unit, which is coupled to the interconnection logic. The at least one functional unit to operate as media processing stage of a media processing pipeline. In one embodiment, the apparatus may further include an on-chip controller to enable at least one selected off-chip functional unit to operate as a media processing stage of the media processing pipeline. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the chipset may provide an internal media processing pipeline, which may be expanded, reduced or modified by the inclusion of at least one off-chip media processing stage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.