Balance Sheet Details (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 27, 2013		Jul. 28, 2012		Jul. 30, 2011
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 105		$ 127
Work in process	24		35
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	572		630
Manufactured finished goods	480		597
Total finished goods	1,052		1,227
Service-related spares	256		213
Demonstration systems	39		61
Total	1,476		1,663
Property and equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	4,426		4,363
Computer equipment and related software	1,416		1,469
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,721		5,364
Operating lease assets	326	[1]	300	[1]
Furniture and fixtures	497		487
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,386		11,983
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,064)	[1]	(8,581)	[1]
Total	3,322		3,402		3,916
Other assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,539		2,270
Investments in privately held companies	833		858
Other Assets	743		754
Total	3,115		3,882
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Current	9,262		8,852
Noncurrent	4,161		4,028
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	9,403		9,173
Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	3,340		2,975
Cash receipts related to revenue from two-tier distributors [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	680		732
Product
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	4,020		3,707
Total deferred revenue [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	$ 13,423		$ 12,880

[1] Accumulated depreciation related to operating lease assets was $203 and $181 as of July 27, 2013 and July 28, 2012, respectively.