In at least one embodiment, a processor detects during execution of program code whether a load instruction within the program code is associated with a hint. In response to detecting that the load instruction is not associated with a hint, the processor retrieves a full cache line of data from the memory hierarchy into the processor in response to the load instruction. In response to detecting that the load instruction is associated with a hint, a processor retrieves a partial cache line of data into the processor from the memory hierarchy in response to the load instruction.