you can try adding '--enable optimize --disable-debug --disable-ccache' and stripping binaries at the end of compilation process.
Such things help in obtaining a smaller and faster code but they could not be the solution to the problems you experience.
You should understand what is the source of the slowness and consequent hangs: increasing memory usage, whatever.
I'm trying to compile it with this options
./configure --with-denoise-level=3 --enable-optimize --enable-verbose --enable-geoip --enable-wxcas --enable-amule-gui --enable-amulecmd --enable-amule-daemon --enable-alc --enable-alcc --enable-cas --disable-debug --enable-ccache --enable-webserver
The machine is not so fast but i got no problem in the past using an old CVS version.
I'll keep you informed

THX