Yes, I like that CUDA stuff. However I think you need their Tesla engine for the most impressive eye candy, which runs about $2000 last time I looked. Of course, this time next year etc. etc.
Sure, but look at that frame rate. Don't get me wrong, I think we're in a golden age of computer graphics, but that last 5% o performance is still pricey.
Maybe it's time to start benchmarking physics simulations though, just like the utah teapot was/is the 'hello world' of the 3d modelling/raytracing world for so long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uoVRs_zLn8
Not so smooth as on the desktop GPU, but even not top-of-line gaming card for few hundred bucks will give you very impressive performance.
And even with just CPU you can do pretty nice things:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlFAzXeCB80