A system comprising: a plurality of processors; a plurality of storage devices configured to store a data set; and a network communication interface configured to receive a request from a personal computer to perform an operation on the data set; wherein the system is configured to respond to receiving the request to perform the operation on the data set by: determining a size of the data set; if the size exceeds a first threshold amount, performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors and transmitting a result of the operation on the data set to the personal computer; if the size is less than a second threshold amount smaller than the first threshold, transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set; and if the size is not less than the second threshold amount and does not exceed the first threshold amount, estimating which of the personal computer or the plurality of processors can perform the operation faster; and performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors, or transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set, depending on an outcome of said estimating. a plurality of processors; a plurality of storage devices configured to store a data set; and a network communication interface configured to receive a request from a personal computer to perform an operation on the data set; wherein the system is configured to respond to receiving the request to perform the operation on the data set by: determining a size of the data set; if the size exceeds a first threshold amount, performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors and transmitting a result of the operation on the data set to the personal computer; if the size is less than a second threshold amount smaller than the first threshold, transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set; and if the size is not less than the second threshold amount and does not exceed the first threshold amount, estimating which of the personal computer or the plurality of processors can perform the operation faster; and performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors, or transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set, depending on an outcome of said estimating. determining a size of the data set; if the size exceeds a first threshold amount, performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors and transmitting a result of the operation on the data set to the personal computer; if the size is less than a second threshold amount smaller than the first threshold, transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set; and if the size is not less than the second threshold amount and does not exceed the first threshold amount, estimating which of the personal computer or the plurality of processors can perform the operation faster; and performing the operation on the data set using the plurality of processors, or transmitting the data set to the personal computer for performing the operation on the data set, depending on an outcome of said estimating.