Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	NOTE 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Description of business. PMC-Sierra, Inc. (the “Company” or “PMC”) is a fabless semiconductor and software solution innovator transforming networks that connect, move and store Big Data. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports semiconductor, embedded software, and board level solutions by integrating its mixed-signal, software and systems expertise through a network of offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Building on a track record of technology leadership, the Company is driving innovation across storage, optical and mobile networks. PMC’s highly integrated solutions increase performance and enable next generation services to accelerate the network transformation. Basis of presentation. The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules or regulations. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments which are normal and recurring in nature and are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Fiscal 2014 will consist of 52 weeks and will end on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Fiscal 2013 consisted of 52 weeks and ended on Saturday, December 28, 2013. The third quarter of each of 2014 and 2013 consisted of 13 weeks. The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and presented in thousands unless otherwise stated. Subsequent to filing the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in fiscal year 2013, the unaudited comparative condensed consolidated financial information for the first, second and third quarters of 2013 was restated as disclosed in Item 9B in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2014. The unaudited comparative financial information for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 presented herein reflects such restatements, which were to correct certain errors related to accounting for income taxes and capitalization of inventory-related overhead costs. Estimates. The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, stock-based compensation, purchase accounting assumptions including those used to calculate the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill, the valuation of investments, accounting for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, depreciation and amortization, asset impairments, revenue recognition, sales returns, warranty costs, income taxes including uncertain tax positions, accounting for employee benefit plans, and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements During the first quarter of 2014, the Company adopted Financial Accountings Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” The new guidance requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. Accordingly, we adopted these presentation requirements on a prospective basis at the beginning of our first quarter of 2014. Upon adoption, $44 million of deferred tax assets of a foreign subsidiary were netted against the related liability for unrecognized tax benefits on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The netting of deferred tax assets and liabilities with unrecognized tax benefits had no impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASU 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption method. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The standard requires that a performance target that affects vesting, and that could be achieved after the requisite service period, be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the service has been rendered. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-12 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, or ASU 2014-15, which requires an entity's management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued or within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued, when applicable. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted. Accordingly, we early adopted this standard and it did not have any impact in our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

NOTE 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of business. PMC-Sierra, Inc. (the “Company” or “PMC”) is a fabless semiconductor and software solution innovator transforming networks that connect, move and store Big Data. The Company designs, develops, markets and supports semiconductor, embedded software, and board level solutions by integrating its mixed-signal, software and systems expertise through a network of offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Building on a track record of technology leadership, the Company is driving innovation across storage, optical and mobile networks. PMC’s highly integrated solutions increase performance and enable next generation services to accelerate the network transformation.

Basis of presentation. The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules or regulations. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments which are normal and recurring in nature and are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Fiscal 2014 will consist of 52 weeks and will end on Saturday, December 27, 2014. Fiscal 2013 consisted of 52 weeks and ended on Saturday, December 28, 2013. The third quarter of each of 2014 and 2013 consisted of 13 weeks. The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar and presented in thousands unless otherwise stated.

Subsequent to filing the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in fiscal year 2013, the unaudited comparative condensed consolidated financial information for the first, second and third quarters of 2013 was restated as disclosed in Item 9B in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2013, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2014. The unaudited comparative financial information for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2013 presented herein reflects such restatements, which were to correct certain errors related to accounting for income taxes and capitalization of inventory-related overhead costs.

Estimates. The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, stock-based compensation, purchase accounting assumptions including those used to calculate the fair value of intangible assets and goodwill, the valuation of investments, accounting for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, depreciation and amortization, asset impairments, revenue recognition, sales returns, warranty costs, income taxes including uncertain tax positions, accounting for employee benefit plans, and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company adopted Financial Accountings Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” The new guidance requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. Accordingly, we adopted these presentation requirements on a prospective basis at the beginning of our first quarter of 2014. Upon adoption, $44 million of deferred tax assets of a foreign subsidiary were netted against the related liability for unrecognized tax benefits on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The netting of deferred tax assets and liabilities with unrecognized tax benefits had no impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASU 2014-09, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption method. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our ongoing financial reporting.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The standard requires that a performance target that affects vesting, and that could be achieved after the requisite service period, be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the service has been rendered. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-12 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, or ASU 2014-15, which requires an entity's management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued or within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued, when applicable. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted. Accordingly, we early adopted this standard and it did not have any impact in our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.