Efficient state transition among multiple programs on multi-threaded processors by executing cache priming program

A system and method to optimize processor performance and minimizing average thread latency by selectively loading a cache when a program state, resources required for execution of a program or the program itself change, is described. An embodiment of the invention supports a “cache priming program” that is selectively executed for a first thread/program/sub-routine of each process. Such a program is optimized for situations when instructions and other program data are not yet resident in cache(s), and/or whenever resources required for program execution or the program itself changes. By pre-loading the cache with two resources required for two instructions for only a first thread, average thread latency is reduced because the resources are already present in the cache. Since, such a mechanism is carried out only for one thread in a program cycle, pitfalls of a conventional general pre-fetch scheme that involves parsing of the program in advance to determine which resources and instructions will be needed at a later time, are avoided.