<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001081197</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBESPANVIRATA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209071</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TPG ADVISORS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-05</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>8000000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>6.96</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>6898716</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Through funds managed by Reporting Person</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares are beneficially owned by TPG Partners, L.P. and TPG Parallel I, L.P.,
which are managed by GenPar, L.P., of which the Reporting Person is the sole general partner. Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Act&quot;), the Reporting Person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of the Issuer beneficially owned by such funds only to the extent of the greater of the Reporting Person's direct or indirect interest in the profits or capital account of such funds. Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) under the Act, this filing shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Act or otherwise, the beneficial owner of any securities owned by such entities in excess of such amount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">James G. Coulter and John Marren are directors of the Issuer. John Marren is a partner of GenPar, L.P.  David Bonderman, James G. Coulter and William S. Price, III (each a &quot;Shareholder&quot;) are officers, directors and sole shareholders of the Reporting Person, and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by the Reporting Person. Each Shareholder and John Marren disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares in excess of the greater of his direct or indirect pecuniary interest in such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard A. Ekleberry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

