Financial Arrangements, Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2013		Jan. 29, 2012		Jan. 30, 2011
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Outstanding Inventory Purchase Obligation	$ 470,300,000		$ 561,300,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Current	34,294,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	29,465,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	25,616,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	25,265,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	22,638,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	43,545,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	180,823,000
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	30,600,000	[1]	30,600,000	[1]
Litigation Reserve Administrative Expenses And Trustee Fee	5,600,000
Various administrative expenses and Trustee fees included in conditional settlement payment	25,000,000
Net warranty charge against cost of revenue	181,000,000
Net warranty charge against sales, general, and administrative expense	12,700,000
Patent Cross Licensing Agreement Term	6
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Abstract]
Outstanding Capital Purchase Obligations	44,800,000		40,500,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	38,400,000		37,900,000		40,700,000
Building [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$ 85,100,000

[1] Please refer to Note 13 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the 3dfx litigation.