v2.4.1.9

Income Taxes Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2015	Jan. 26, 2014	Jan. 27, 2013	Jan. 30, 2011
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	$ 228,700,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
Reduction of deferred tax asset included in unrecognized tax benefit	122,100,000nvda_ReductionOfDeferredTaxAssetIncludedInUnrecognizedTaxBenefit
Income Tax Reconciliation, Tax Contingencies [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of period	237,738,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	220,543,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits		138,262,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Increases in tax positions for prior years	0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	18,800,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decreases in tax positions for prior years	(871,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	(714,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	(304,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Increases in tax positions for current year	22,865,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	22,787,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	67,764,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Lapse in statute of limitations	(5,997,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	(4,878,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	(3,979,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Balance at end of period	253,735,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	237,738,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	220,543,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	138,262,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued [Abstract]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	14,400,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	12,900,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	11,300,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent	120,961,000us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	119,977,000us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent
Unrecognized tax benefit (non current)	106,600,000nvda_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitNonCurrent
State and Local Jurisdiction
Income Tax Reconciliation, Tax Contingencies [Abstract]
Balance at end of period	$ 45,300,000us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember

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- Definition

Reduction of deferred tax asset included in unrecognized tax benefit

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The gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (tax reductions recognized in financial reports but excluded from tax returns) pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns as of the beginning balance sheet date, not expected to be settled within one year or a current operating cycle.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the unpaid sum of the known and estimated amounts payable to satisfy all domestic and foreign income tax obligations due beyond one year or the operating cycle, whichever is longer. Alternate captions include income taxes payable, noncurrent.

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Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

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Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return.

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The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

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