Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method enhance the efficiency of
processor resource utilization during instruction prefetching via one or
more speculative threads. Renamer logic and a map table are utilized to
perform filtering of instructions in a speculative thread instruction
stream. The map table includes a yes-a-thing bit to indicate whether the
associated physical register's content reflects the value that would be
computed by the main thread. A thread progress beacon table is utilized
to track relative progress of a main thread and a speculative helper
thread. Based upon information in the thread progress beacon table, the
main thread may effect termination of a helper thread that is not likely
to provide a performance benefit for the main thread.