Balance Sheet Details (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 26, 2014	Jul. 27, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 77	$ 105
Work in process	5	24
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	595	572
Manufactured finished goods	606	480
Total finished goods	1,201	1,052
Service-related spares	273	256
Demonstration systems	35	39
Total	1,591	1,476
Property and equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	4,468	4,426
Computer equipment and related software	1,425	1,416
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,756	5,721
Operating lease assets	362	326
Furniture and fixtures	509	497
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,520	12,386
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,268)	(9,064)
Total	3,252	3,322	3,402
Other assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,700	1,539
Investments in privately held companies	899	833
Other	732	743
Total	3,331	3,115
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	14,142	13,423
Current	9,478	9,262
Noncurrent	4,664	4,161
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	9,640	9,403
Product:
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	4,502	4,020
Product: | Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	3,924	3,340
Product: | Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	$ 578	$ 680