GPU Features

Hi, i know how to check a cpu with cpuid for its supported features like 3dNow! , SSE ... and my question is: "is it able to check the gpu or your graphics adapter for its features like vertex shader and the specefic versions, and if how? and how do i check the hardware specification, for example how many renderpipelines are availaible". i want to write a lib for checking the graphics adapter about its supported features & hw specifications. and where can i get the whitepapers for all currently running gpus? Iam new in programming gpu´s , please send some helping res :D ! thx yours rund1me