Sorry if you already know this, but I've found that crashing is much less likely when following these working practices. (And I'm always using CPU):

- Restart the computer and don't have any other optional apps/programs running. (Although I don't think I've had to do this since starting using v2)

- Create the VWD sim with the scene stripped down to the minimum. IE just the figure and cloth/hair item involved in the sim. Merge with rest of scene afterwards.

- Have the figure and cloth/hair in base resolution for the sim.

- Simplify the clothing/hair with a decimator if it has a large mesh, and/or do the sim on one element at a time. EG shirt body and sleeves, or bangs and ponytail, separately. (I do this by having the elements as separate items (duplicate, delete part of mesh geometry in one, rest of mesh geometry in the other. Animate by Host where they join)).

- "Restore default parameters" in VWD, unless you are confident they are all how you want them!

- Exclude parts of the figure which are not involved in the sim using "no collide for current collision". EG Exclude all of body except head and shoulders for hair simulation.

- Use "Animated by host" on those parts of the mesh which are best kept the same as before the simulation.

I'm sure I saw a longer list than this somewhere in the past but I can't find it now!

Let me guess - You did all that and it still crashed!