Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	May 01, 2011	Jan. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	May 02, 2010	Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	$ 953,194,000	$ 1,066,180,000	$ 1,016,517,000	$ 962,039,000	$ 886,376,000	$ 843,912,000	$ 811,208,000	$ 1,001,813,000	$ 3,997,930,000	$ 3,543,309,000	$ 3,326,445,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									204,205,000	186,989,000	196,664,000
Operating income (loss)									648,299,000	255,747,000	(98,945,000)
Long-Lived Assets	680,404,000				655,281,000				680,404,000	655,281,000
Tender offer expense											140,200,000
Patent Cross Licensing Agreement Term										6
UNITED STATES
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									596,264,000	297,265,000	248,793,000
Long-Lived Assets	563,699,000				529,797,000				563,699,000	529,797,000
CHINA
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									941,811,000	1,223,199,000	1,304,196,000
Long-Lived Assets	27,360,000				32,500,000				27,360,000	32,500,000
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									1,137,175,000	936,797,000	883,137,000
Long-Lived Assets	40,199,000				56,202,000				40,199,000	56,202,000
Other Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									730,975,000	519,473,000	406,286,000
Long-Lived Assets	811,000				787,000				811,000	787,000
Other Americas [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									295,114,000	305,154,000	280,273,000
Europe [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									296,591,000	261,421,000	203,760,000
Long-Lived Assets	17,737,000				4,541,000				17,737,000	4,541,000
INDIA
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Long-Lived Assets	30,598,000				31,454,000				30,598,000	31,454,000
GPU [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									2,542,430,000	2,527,144,000	2,660,176,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									118,644,000	126,536,000	139,298,000
Operating income (loss)									528,242,000	30,154,000	(13,487,000)
PSB [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									864,334,000	818,552,000	510,223,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									22,564,000	26,711,000	28,443,000
Operating income (loss)									327,970,000	321,944,000	148,953,000
CPB [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									591,166,000	197,613,000	156,046,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									62,997,000	33,742,000	28,923,000
Operating income (loss)									(207,913,000)	(153,351,000)	(94,170,000)
All Other [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization expense									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									$ 0	$ 57,000,000	$ (140,241,000)