Consolidated Variable Interest Entities - Assets & Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 01, 2012		Sep. 01, 2011		Mar. 03, 2011	Sep. 02, 2010
Assets
Cash and equivalents	$ 2,094		$ 2,160		$ 2,184	$ 2,913
Receivables	1,241		1,497
Inventories	2,081		2,080
Other current assets	243		95
Total current assets	5,659		5,832
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,357		7,555
Other noncurrent assets	388		468
Total assets	14,139		14,752
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,457		1,830
Deferred income	364		443
Equipment purchase contracts	131		67
Current portion of long-term debt	150		140
Total current liabilities	2,102		2,480
Long-term debt	2,165		1,861
Other noncurrent liabilities	513		559
Total liabilities	4,780		4,900
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | IM Flash [Member]
Assets
Cash and equivalents	171	[1]	327	[1]
Receivables	217	[1]	252	[1]
Inventories	240	[1]	227	[1]
Other current assets	14	[1]	11	[1]
Total current assets	642	[1]	817	[1]
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,991	[1]	4,121	[1]
Other noncurrent assets	66	[1]	66	[1]
Total assets	4,699	[1]	5,004	[1]
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	194	[1]	458	[1]
Deferred income	122	[1]	125	[1]
Equipment purchase contracts	93	[1]	37	[1]
Current portion of long-term debt	10	[1]	8	[1]
Total current liabilities	419	[1]	628	[1]
Long-term debt	78	[1]	58	[1]
Other noncurrent liabilities	4	[1]	4	[1]
Total liabilities	501	[1]	690	[1]
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | IM Flash [Member] | IM Flash Assets and Liabilities Acquired by the Parent [Member]
Assets
Total assets	2,880	[1]	2,999	[1]
Liabilities
Total liabilities	193	[1]	433	[1]
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | MP Mask Technology Center, LLC [Member]
Assets
Total current assets	20	[1]	24	[1]
Noncurrent assets (primarily property, plant and equipment)	184	[1]	143	[1]
Liabilities
Total current liabilities	$ 51	[1]	$ 31	[1]

[1] Amounts exclude intercompany balances that were eliminated in our consolidated balance sheets.