-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U+0s0srWq1xwdM2X5XWhGmKxpRACT2BLzznfWPhawgPONEXymm2P5o2FWkbYA63r
 cdkh9exEy7Fj54w5DL+TiQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000356028-04-000119.txt : 20040715
<SEC-HEADER>0000356028-04-000119.hdr.sgml : 20040715
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040715155939
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000356028-04-000119
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040712
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040715

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Handal Kenneth V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001297342

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09247
		FILM NUMBER:		04915887

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		631-342-6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTL.
		STREET 2:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000356028
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				132857434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6313425224

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA
		CITY:			ISLANDIA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11749
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000356028</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297342</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Handal Kenneth V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COMPUTER ASSOCIATES INTL., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE COMPUTER ASSOCIATES PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ISLANDIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11749</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.10</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.57</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.10</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock that vests over a three year period as follows: 34% on July 12, 2005; 33% on July 12, 2006 and 33% on July 12, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option becomes exerciseable over three years as follows:  34% on July 12, 2005, 33% on July 12, 2006 and 33% on July 12, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joshua DeRienzis, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----