Net Income Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013	Jul. 28, 2013	Apr. 28, 2013	Jan. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012		Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 26, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013	Jan. 29, 2012
Notes to financial statements [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price	$ 20.16									$ 20.16
Warrant Strike Price										$ 27.14
Numerator:
Net income	$ 146,917	$ 118,734	$ 96,448	$ 77,891	$ 173,973	$ 209,080	$ 119,046	[1]	$ 60,437	$ 439,990	$ 562,536	$ 581,090
Denominator:
Denominator for basic net income per share, weighted average shares (in shares)										587,893	619,324	603,646
Effect of dilutive securities:
Equity awards outstanding (in shares)										6,624	5,633	12,725
Denominator for diluted net income per share, weighted average shares (in shares)										594,517	624,957	616,371
Net income per share:
Basic net income per share	$ 0.26	$ 0.20	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.34	$ 0.19		$ 0.10	$ 0.75	$ 0.91	$ 0.96
Diluted net income per share	$ 0.25	$ 0.20	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.19		$ 0.10	$ 0.74	$ 0.90	$ 0.94
Anti-dilutive common equivalent shares from stock options and RSUs (in shares)										25,630	26,784	22,617

[1] Includes net present value of a $25 million charitable contribution pledged in fiscal year 2013 to Stanford Hospital and Clinic, payable over a ten year period.