Financial Arrangements, Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012		Jan. 30, 2011		Jan. 31, 2010
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Current	$ 34,567,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	29,254,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	23,286,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	19,480,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	19,219,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	33,097,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	158,903,000
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Aggregate purchase price of acquisition paid initially, net of direct costs	70,000,000
Excess of assessed fair value over acquisition price paid	50,000,000
Assessed value of asset purchase	108,000,000
Accrued legal settlement (3)	30,600,000	[1]	30,600,000	[1]
Various administrative expenses and Trustee fees included in conditional settlement payment	5,600,000
Conditional settlement assessed to satisfy debts and liabilities owed to the general unsecured creditors of 3dfx.	25,000,000
Royalty calculated as a percentage of net sales for certain memory controllers	1.00%
Royalty calculated as a percentage of net sales for other memory controllers	2.00%
Cap on the maximum average net sales price per unit on royalty bearing products	20
Net warranty charge against cost of revenue	12,700,000
Net warranty charge against sales, general, and administrative expense	181,200,000
Outstanding Inventory Purchase Obligations	561,300,000		546,400,000
Patent Cross Licensing Agreement Term			6
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Abstract]
Outstanding Capital Purchase Obligations	40,500,000		31,800,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	37,900,000		40,700,000		46,200,000
Building [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$ 100,100,000

[1] Please refer to Note 14 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the 3dfx litigation.