Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	May 01, 2011	Jan. 27, 2013	Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	$ 1,106,902,000	$ 1,204,110,000	$ 1,044,270,000	$ 924,877,000	$ 953,194,000	$ 1,066,180,000	$ 1,016,517,000	$ 962,039,000	$ 4,280,159,000	$ 3,997,930,000	$ 3,543,309,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									226,235,000	204,205,000	186,989,000
Operating income (loss)									648,239,000	648,299,000	255,747,000
Long-Lived Assets	683,624,000				680,404,000				683,624,000	680,404,000
Patent Cross Licensing Agreement Term									6
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Unallocated corporate expenses and other expenses									(149,678,000)	(151,798,000)	(129,341,000)
Share-based Compensation									(136,662,000)	(136,354,000)	(100,353,000)
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibiles									(17,134,000)	(17,190,000)	(9,182,000)
Other acquisition-related costs									(19,004,000)	(20,282,000)	0
Segment Reconciliation of Net warranty charge in All other									0	0	(193,900,000)
Other Nonrecurring Expense and Benefits									(20,127,000)	(7,300,000)	(57,000,000)
Reconciliation total in All other									(78,605,000)	(112,924,000)	(375,776,000)
United States
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									799,430,000	596,264,000	297,265,000
Long-Lived Assets	542,669,000				563,699,000				542,669,000	563,699,000
China
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									780,493,000	941,811,000	1,223,199,000
Long-Lived Assets	34,644,000				27,360,000				34,644,000	27,360,000
Taiwan, Province of China
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									1,356,838,000	1,137,175,000	936,797,000
Long-Lived Assets	45,868,000				40,199,000				45,868,000	40,199,000
Other Asia Pacific
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									783,573,000	730,975,000	519,473,000
Long-Lived Assets	941,000				811,000				941,000	811,000
Other Americas
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									296,337,000	295,114,000	305,154,000
Europe
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									263,488,000	296,591,000	261,421,000
Long-Lived Assets	28,190,000				17,737,000				28,190,000	17,737,000
India
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Long-Lived Assets	31,312,000				30,598,000				31,312,000	30,598,000
GPU
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									3,251,712,000	3,186,764,000	3,345,696,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									127,698,000	122,417,000	152,094,000
Operating income (loss)									884,767,000	821,640,000	680,761,000
Tegra processor
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									764,447,000	591,166,000	197,613,000
Depreciation and amortization expense									56,105,000	42,365,000	19,081,000
Operating income (loss)									(157,923,000)	(60,417,000)	(49,238,000)
All Other
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue									264,000,000	220,000,000	0
Depreciation and amortization expense									42,432,000	39,423,000	15,814,000
Operating income (loss)									$ (78,605,000)	$ (112,924,000)	$ (375,776,000)