Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2015	Jan. 26, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill adjustment related to previously acquired business-3dfx	$ 25,000	$ 0	$ 0
Goodwill	618,179	643,179
Portal Player [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	104,896	104,896
Icera Business Acquisition [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	271,186	271,186
3dfx [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	50,326	75,326
Mental Images [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	59,252	59,252
MediaQ [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	35,167	35,167
ULi [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	31,115	31,115
Hybrid Graphics [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	27,906	27,906
Ageia [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	19,198	19,198
Portland Group, Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,149	2,149
Other Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	16,984	16,984
GPU
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	209,700	230,400
Tegra processor
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 408,500	$ 412,800