Methods and corresponding systems for allocating processing resources for a number of instances (N) of a software component include determining an average processing cost (.mu.) and a variance (.sigma..sup.2) for the software component. Then a processing cost for the software component is estimated as a function of N, the average processing cost (.mu.), and the variance (.sigma..sup.2), and processing resources are allocated in response to the estimated processing cost. The software component can be partitioned into a number of blocks (L), wherein the L blocks include a required block and one or more optional blocks. In some embodiments in response to a total estimated processing cost exceeding an available processing value, selected optional blocks can be disabled to reduce the total estimated processing cost to a value equal to or less than the available processing value. The optional blocks can be prioritized and disabled in order of priority.