Balance Sheet Details (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 26, 2013	Jul. 27, 2013
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 80	$ 105
Work in process	7	24
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	619	572
Manufactured finished goods	464	480
Total finished goods	1,083	1,052
Service-related spares	257	256
Demonstration systems	39	39
Total	1,466	1,476
Property and Equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building & leasehold improvements	4,340	4,426
Computer equipment and related software	1,428	1,416
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,767	5,721
Operating lease assets	326	326
Furniture and fixtures	498	497
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,359	12,386
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,086)	(9,064)
Total	3,273	3,322
Other Assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,496	1,539
Investments in privately held companies	884	833
Other Assets	760	743
Total	3,140	3,115
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Current	9,212	9,262
Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent	3,995	4,161
Service [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	8,896	9,403
Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	3,628	3,340
Cash receipts related to revenue from two-tier distributors [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	683	680
Product [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	4,311	4,020
Total deferred revenue [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	$ 13,207	$ 13,423