<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001243233-08-000014
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080219
<FILING-DATE>20080221
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080221
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NVIDIA CORP
<CIK>0001045810
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3674
<IRS-NUMBER>943177549
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0129
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2701 SAN TOMAS EXPRESSWAY
<CITY>SANTA CLARA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95050
<PHONE>408-486-2000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2701 SAN TOMAS EXPRESSWAY
<CITY>SANTA CLARA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95050
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>NVIDIA CORP/DE
<DATE-CHANGED>20020612
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>NVIDIA CORP/CA
<DATE-CHANGED>19980303
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BURKETT MARVIN D
<CIK>0001197646
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-23985
<FILM-NUMBER>08633063
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2701 SAN TOMAS EXPRESS WAY
<CITY>SANTA CLARA
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95050
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001045810</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NVIDIA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVDA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURKETT MARVIN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NVIDIA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2701 SAN TOMAS EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95050</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>163469</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11430</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>174899</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>299994</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11430</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-04-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11430</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>168570</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 538 shares of common stock acquired in an exempt transaction pursuant to NVIDIA 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Section 423).  The shares reflect the 3 for 2 stock split of the Company's Common Stock on September 10, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option was originally reported as covering 100,000 shares at an exercise price of $25.42, but was adjusted to reflect the stock splits that occurred on April 6, 2006 and September 10, 2007. Vesting begins on May 17, 2007 and continues quarterly in equal installments over the next year, fully vests on May 17, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option was originally reported as covering 90,000 shares at an exercise price of $26.24, but was adjusted to reflect the stock splits that occurred on April 6, 2006 and September 10, 2007. Vesting begins on April 13, 2007 and continues quarterly in equal installments over the next year, fully vests on April 13, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Christine Lillquist, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
