I made a similar post in which I explain how to use the 3Gb patch and also wave file conversion. It has helped me a lot, but only if it's really properly configured.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=212510
Btw, it is a
fact that LAA
can solve crashes. I can definitely reproduce crashes with SHIII and LSH5.1 that were definitely gone when LAA was setup correctly.
Some people here have no use for 50% more RAM, because they already have superior computers. Fine. But please, please don't tell us that because YOU never have problems with the game, NO ONE ELSE must have problems with it. If YOU don't have problems you're just not adding enough stuff to the game, m'kay?