Balance Sheet Details (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 26, 2014		Jul. 27, 2013
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 57		$ 105
Work in process	5		24
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	623		572
Manufactured finished goods	550		480
Total finished goods	1,173		1,052
Service-related spares	255		256
Demonstration systems	38		39
Total	1,528		1,476
Property and Equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building & leasehold improvements	4,496		4,426
Computer equipment and related software	1,442		1,416
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,750		5,721
Operating lease assets	360	[1]	326	[1]
Furniture and fixtures	508		497
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,556		12,386
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,246)	[1]	(9,064)	[1]
Total	3,310		3,322
Other Assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,540		1,539
Investments in privately held companies	923		833
Other Assets	721		743
Total	3,184		3,115
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue, Current	9,198		9,262
Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent	3,953		4,161
Deferred Revenue	13,151		13,423
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	8,746		9,403
Product
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	4,405		4,020
Product | Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	3,669		3,340
Product | Cash receipts related to revenue from two-tier distributors [Member]
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred Revenue	$ 736		$ 680

[1] Accumulated depreciation related to operating lease assets was $198 and $203 as of April 26, 2014 and July 27, 2013, respectively.