Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2013	Jul. 29, 2012	Jul. 28, 2013	Jul. 29, 2012	Jan. 27, 2013
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	$ 977,238,000	$ 1,044,270,000	$ 1,931,977,000	$ 1,969,147,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	61,840,000	56,195,000	121,584,000	110,686,000
Operating income (loss)	105,534,000	139,623,000	188,315,000	212,449,000
Revenue from significant customers (in percent)	23.00%	12.00%	22.00%	11.00%
Number of customers with significant revenue	2	1	2	1
Accounts receivable from significant customers (in percent)	37.00%		37.00%		40.00%
Number of customers with significant accounts receivable balance	2		2		3
Charitable contribution		20,127,000		20,127,000
Net present value, charitable contribution		25,000,000
Reconciling items included in All Other category
unallocated corporate opex and other expenses	(36,795,000)	(35,838,000)	(77,814,000)	(74,871,000)
Stock based compensation expense	(32,395,000)	(32,255,000)	(65,792,000)	(67,824,000)
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets	(3,980,000)	(4,065,000)	(7,895,000)	(8,407,000)
Other acquisition related costs	(4,984,000)	(4,794,000)	(9,930,000)	(9,965,000)
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	(2,290,000)	(20,127,000)	(2,290,000)	(20,127,000)
China [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	184,086,000	196,687,000	359,130,000	375,297,000
Taiwan [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	319,004,000	340,144,000	608,885,000	616,463,000
Other Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	165,117,000	212,367,000	332,374,000	391,044,000
United States [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	163,796,000	154,814,000	349,774,000	300,756,000
Other Americas [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	76,531,000	81,260,000	141,538,000	157,082,000
Europe [Member]
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	68,704,000	58,998,000	140,276,000	128,505,000
GPU
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	858,613,000	798,624,000	1,644,225,000	1,524,989,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	32,327,000	31,397,000	62,552,000	62,458,000
Operating income (loss)	270,228,000	216,030,000	494,874,000	369,507,000
Tegra Processor
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	52,625,000	179,646,000	155,752,000	312,158,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	19,116,000	14,400,000	38,352,000	27,118,000
Operating income (loss)	(150,250,000)	(45,328,000)	(274,838,000)	(107,864,000)
All Other
Revenue by Operating Segment and Geographic Region
Revenue	66,000,000	66,000,000	132,000,000	132,000,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	10,397,000	10,398,000	20,680,000	21,110,000
Operating income (loss)	$ (14,444,000)	$ (31,079,000)	$ (31,721,000)	$ (49,194,000)