Balance Sheet Components (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2014		Jan. 27, 2013		Jan. 29, 2012
Inventories
Raw Materials	$ 126,896,000		$ 157,989,000
Work in-process	94,844,000		67,352,000
Finished goods	166,025,000		187,126,000
Total inventories	387,765,000		412,467,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation	164,000,000		157,600,000		145,200,000
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	1,282,820,000		1,288,782,000
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(700,080,000)		(712,638,000)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	582,740,000		576,144,000
Accrued Liabilities
Deferred revenue	273,108,000		273,605,000
Accrued customer programs	157,840,000	[1]	163,406,000	[1]
Customer Advances	9,297,000		9,090,000
Warranty accrual	7,571,000	[2]	14,874,000	[2]
Accrued payroll and related expenses	109,721,000		98,977,000
Accrued legal settlement	30,600,000	[3]	30,600,000	[3]
Taxes payable, short term	2,378,000		3,173,000
Other	30,590,000		26,070,000
Total accrued liabilities and other	621,105,000		619,795,000
Other Long-term Liabilities
Deferred income tax liability	157,953,000		192,950,000
Income taxes payable, long term	119,977,000		115,267,000
Asset retirement obligation	11,056,000		10,165,000
Deferred Revenue	172,199,000		236,152,000
Liabilites other noncurrent	13,940,000		34,787,000
Total other long-term liabilities	475,125,000		589,321,000
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	(A)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	218,496,000	[4]	218,496,000	[4]
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5-25
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	19,268,000		30,869,000
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3-5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	412,862,000		349,530,000
Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3-5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	120,435,000		245,734,000
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	(B)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	178,884,000	[5]	159,413,000	[5]
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	3
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	204,344,000		174,712,000
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	58,874,000		58,712,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	(B)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	28,481,000	[5]	27,231,000	[5]
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	(C)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	$ 41,176,000	[6]	$ 24,085,000	[6]

[1] Please refer to Note 1 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the nature of accrued customer programs and their accounting treatment related to our revenue recognition policies and estimates.

[2] Please refer to Note 10 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the warranty accrual.

[3] Please refer to Note 12 of these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion regarding the 3dfx litigation.

[4] Land is a non-depreciable asset.

[5] Leasehold improvements and capital leases are amortized based on the lesser of either the asset’s estimated useful life or the remaining expected lease term

[6] Construction in process represents assets that are not in service as of the balance sheet date.