A method for encoding display stream compression video data, the method comprising: setting a value, maximum syntax element size, that is as a configurable parameter, so that a mux word size and a balance FIFO size can be controlled depending on hardware requirements, wherein maximum syntax element size refers to the maximum amount of coded information allowable for a particular substream for a particular block; determining which coding modes of a plurality of coding modes are useable or not useable based on a determination that a particular coding mode produces a syntax element size that is greater than the maximum syntax element size for the block by: determining that each coding mode within a first set of coding modes of a plurality of coding modes is not useable for encoding a block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the first set of coding modes produces a syntax element size greater than the maximum syntax element size for one of a plurality of substreams;; determining that each coding mode within a second set of coding modes of the plurality of coding modes is usable for encoding the block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the second set of coding modes produces a syntax element size less than or equal to the maximum syntax element size for all of the plurality of substreams; determining a coding mode for encoding a block of video data from among the second set of coding modes; encoding the block of video data in the plurality of substreams according to the determined coding mode to create a plurality of encoded substreams of video data; storing the plurality of encoded substreams of video data in respective balance first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffers; and multiplexing the plurality of encoded substreams in a bitstream for transmitting to a video decoder. setting a value, maximum syntax element size, that is as a configurable parameter, so that a mux word size and a balance FIFO size can be controlled depending on hardware requirements, wherein maximum syntax element size refers to the maximum amount of coded information allowable for a particular substream for a particular block; determining which coding modes of a plurality of coding modes are useable or not useable based on a determination that a particular coding mode produces a syntax element size that is greater than the maximum syntax element size for the block by: determining that each coding mode within a first set of coding modes of a plurality of coding modes is not useable for encoding a block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the first set of coding modes produces a syntax element size greater than the maximum syntax element size for one of a plurality of substreams;; determining that each coding mode within a second set of coding modes of the plurality of coding modes is usable for encoding the block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the second set of coding modes produces a syntax element size less than or equal to the maximum syntax element size for all of the plurality of substreams; determining a coding mode for encoding a block of video data from among the second set of coding modes; determining that each coding mode within a first set of coding modes of a plurality of coding modes is not useable for encoding a block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the first set of coding modes produces a syntax element size greater than the maximum syntax element size for one of a plurality of substreams;; determining that each coding mode within a second set of coding modes of the plurality of coding modes is usable for encoding the block of video data based on a determination that each coding mode within the second set of coding modes produces a syntax element size less than or equal to the maximum syntax element size for all of the plurality of substreams; determining a coding mode for encoding a block of video data from among the second set of coding modes; encoding the block of video data in the plurality of substreams according to the determined coding mode to create a plurality of encoded substreams of video data; storing the plurality of encoded substreams of video data in respective balance first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffers; and multiplexing the plurality of encoded substreams in a bitstream for transmitting to a video decoder.