v2.4.1.9

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2015	Jan. 26, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013
Amortizable intangible assets components [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 638,112,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	$ 635,435,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated Amortization	(416,398,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	(339,423,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net Carrying Amount	221,714,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	296,012,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Amortization expense associated with intangible assets
Amortization expense	77,000,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	72,700,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	68,400,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Future amortization expense associated with intangible assets
Fiscal 2016	71,900,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
Fiscal 2017	63,600,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Fiscal 2018	49,100,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Fiscal 2019	20,400,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Fiscal 2020	11,900,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
Future amortization after year five	4,800,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive
Acquisition-related intangible assets
Amortizable intangible assets components [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	189,239,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember	189,239,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Accumulated Amortization	(134,062,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember	(114,104,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Net Carrying Amount	55,177,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember	75,135,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Average Useful Life	6 years 9 months 17 days	6 years 6 months 0 days
Patents and Licensed Technology [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets components [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	448,873,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember	446,196,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember
Accumulated Amortization	(282,336,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember	(225,319,000)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember
Net Carrying Amount	$ 166,537,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember	$ 220,877,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = nvda_PatentsAndLicensedTechnologyMember
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Average Useful Life	7 years 2 months 12 days	7 years 2 months 12 days

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- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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-Paragraph 2

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

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Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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