-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Qn3rBpthSLTkp9qh2AVeWkoDoRrT3d2s8qPmD1z1SBAg+6d+NcWi9ogRwl/ADmVt
 fiOSYa8modoMib6+rcqRfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001424062-08-000009.txt : 20080729
<SEC-HEADER>0001424062-08-000009.hdr.sgml : 20080729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080729195015
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001424062-08-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080729
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080729

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hamlin Donna M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001424062

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20784
		FILM NUMBER:		08977091

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408 764 8808

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3408 GARRETT DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859475
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				770156584
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3408 GARRETT DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054-2803
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087648808

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3408 GARRETT DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054-2803
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-07-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRID</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001424062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hamlin Donna M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3408 GARRETT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Human Resources &amp; Admin</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-07-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10550</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30550</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Teichmann, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-07-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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