LAG .. or something worse

OK, with the release of version 1.1, i was subject to terrible lag, so much that loading a game was impossible, let alone play, so i gave it time, let bugs get sorted out and such, and here i am. a couple weeks later: First off, i have all graphics set to default/classic view, i have all sound set to default and muted completely, all extra graphics are turned off automatically with these settings.
I can enter into a game lobby no problem, i can ready up, and chat, no problems, once start game is clicked, i download the map np, BUT to get to the map, i Must minimize the entire game, and maximize it once again, in order to get to the map, otherwise, it will simply sit in the lobby, while the game is long started. Once in the game it takes several rounds to be able to build anything, while creeps leak through, even on longer maps. building towers is a joke, it takes the cash, waits about 5 seconds, then builds it. Upgrading, it takes the cash, then i have to click upgrade once again on the tower to upgrade to the next level (it does not take $ twice, just the first time) once it has finished upgrading, it takes anywhere from 5 to 15 seconds for the tower to actually change colour. ( all the while creeps are trooping by) about every 20 seconds the game freezes for about 7 seconds, then catches up to where it should be, (ticks counting very fast) then it will be normal speed once again, then it will slow down to about .60 speed roughly, then another pause, then catches up, over and over and over again, the entire game. i can not build/upgrade during these pauses/freezing.
IDEA: bring back Version 1.0 as an optional client for anyone who is having such issues. i understand that the more people play and report problems, the faster they get resolved, but this is ridicules.
ok, so sounds like fairly 'normal' issues right, here's the fuk'd up part: My roommate, living in the same house, same net connection, has ZERO problems playing.

..

The only major difference is that his Video card is a bit better, he plays with sound and extras turned on, and i can't play even without sound or anything else. Processor, ram, xp pro SP3, both using the same router, hell, i cleared my cookies before every game, the comps are seriously similar aside from the vid card. Im getting a new one soon so I hope thats the hold up.

After trying another game, ya No! still retarded fukin lag. pausing, towers taking forever to upgrade, ticker working overtime to catch up from pausing, all the same problems i reported above. This blows so much, i finally had a game that i had nothing bad to say about, Multiplayer TD !!! but i guess not anymore! fucking shitty. I'll try again in a couple more weeks as solving this issue probably aint gonna happen. after that..
hey D, remember way back when me and Auto were having a dumb problem where the game would glitch out and we wouldn't be able to send creeps? I was wrong, that wasn't the worst problem anyone could have, as playing the game was possible Is NO ONE else having these problems? Have you chosen to block my I.P. or something? wtf is this? Is it going to get resolved or am i wasting my breath?

....same here...lags without end...totally unplayable ...

Just played a game and the java.exe used 250% of my CPU. (2 and half cores at quadcore system).

There wasnt much creeps on the map either.

The stupid thing is that when i switched the window to see CTRL+ALT+DEL performance, and returned to the game, then every time i clicked, it created those notification points (which were disabled from the game previously, but they only appear with huge lag and CTRL+ALT+DEL, and they also work on all-vs-all when theyre supposed to work on team games only.).