Embodiments relate to first-in-first-out (FIFO) queue based command spreading. An aspect includes receiving a plurality of commands by a first level priority stage of a memory control unit (MCU), wherein each of the plurality of commands is associated with one of a plurality of ports located on a buffer chip. Another aspect includes storing each of the plurality of commands in a FIFO queue of a plurality of FIFO queues in the MCU, wherein each of the plurality of commands is assigned to a FIFO queue based on the command's associated port, and each of the plurality of FIFO queues is associated with a respective one of the plurality of ports located on the buffer chip. Another aspect includes selecting a FIFO queue of the plurality of FIFO queues and forwarding a command from the selected FIFO queue to the buffer chip by the second level priority stage. Another aspect includes a third level priority on the buffer chip associated with each respective FIFO queue to help optimize the bandwidth on the returning upstream fetch bus.