Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	$ 85,418
Goodwill	641,030	369,844
Portal Player [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	104,896	104,896
Icera Business Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	271,186	0
3dfx [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	75,326	75,326
Mental Images [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	59,252	59,252
MediaQ [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	35,167	35,167
ULi [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	31,115	31,115
Hybrid Graphics [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	27,906	27,906
Ageia [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	19,198	19,198
Other Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	16,984	16,984
GPU [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	133,100	133,100
PSB [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	95,100	95,100
CPB [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill Amount	$ 412,800	$ 141,600

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details