Fair Value Measurements - Assets measured (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 01, 2011		Sep. 01, 2011
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Marketable equity investments	$ 53	[1]	$ 52	[1]
Assets Held For Sale	32	[1]	35	[1]
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,722		1,704
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. shares received in Japan Fab disposition (in shares)	20
Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	1,488	[2]	1,462	[2]
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	149	[2]	155	[2]
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Marketable equity investments	41	[1]	37	[1]
Assets Held For Sale	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,529		1,499
Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	1,488	[2]	1,462	[2]
Level 1 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	0	[2]	0	[2]
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Marketable equity investments	12	[1]	15	[1]
Assets Held For Sale	0	[1]	0	[1]
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	161		170
Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	0	[2]	0	[2]
Level 2 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	149	[2]	155	[2]
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Marketable equity investments	0	[1]	0	[1]
Assets Held For Sale	32	[1]	35	[1]
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	32		35
Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	0	[2]	0	[2]
Level 3 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash and equivalents	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[2]

[1] Included in other noncurrent assets.

[2] Included in cash and equivalents.