Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012		Jun. 26, 2011		Jul. 01, 2012		Jun. 26, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 137,762		$ 171,018		$ 269,856		$ 328,452
Cost of revenues	41,253		52,663		82,265		111,824
Gross profit	96,509		118,355		187,591		216,628
Other costs and expenses:
Research and development	56,699		56,421		115,770		110,920
Selling, general and administrative	29,290		29,366		58,261		61,575
Amortization of purchased intangible assets	11,626		11,031		22,913		22,052
(Loss) income from operations	(1,106)		21,537		(9,353)		22,081
Other income (expense):
Gain on investment securities and other	527		167		566		337
Amortization of debt issue costs	(50)		(50)		(100)		(100)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	1,608		(623)		503		(2,097)
Interest expense, net	(563)		(571)		(742)		(1,495)
Income (loss) before recovery of (provision for) income taxes	416		20,460		(9,126)		18,726
Recovery of (provision for) income taxes	26,064		(3,725)		(60,665)		(9,648)
Net income (loss)	$ 26,480		$ 16,735		$ (69,791)		$ 9,078
Net income (loss) per common share - basic	$ 0.12		$ 0.07		$ (0.31)		$ 0.04
Net income (loss) per common share - diluted	$ 0.12		$ 0.07		$ (0.31)		$ 0.04
Shares used in per share calculation - basic	222,316	[1]	234,993	[1]	227,229	[1]	234,526	[1]
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted	224,560	[1]	237,506	[1]	227,229	[1]	237,531	[1]

[1] PMC-Sierra Ltd. special shares are included in the calculation of basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.