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Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
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Mar. 01, 2012
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Mar. 03, 2011
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Mar. 01, 2012
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Mar. 03, 2011
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Sep. 01, 2011
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Mar. 31, 2012
Inotera [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Inotera [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Inotera [Member]
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Dec. 01, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Inotera [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Dec. 20, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Sep. 01, 2011
Inotera [Member]
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Aug. 30, 2012
Inotera [Member]
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Sep. 02, 2010
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Sep. 01, 2011
Transform Solar Pty Limited ('Transform') [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Other [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Other [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Other [Member]
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Mar. 03, 2011
Other [Member]
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Sep. 01, 2011
Other [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Aptina [Member]
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Mar. 01, 2012
Aptina [Member]
Other [Member]
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| Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment Balance | $ 335,000,000 | $ 335,000,000 | $ 483,000,000 | $ 259,000,000 | $ 259,000,000 | $ 259,000,000 | $ 388,000,000 | $ 75,000,000 | $ 75,000,000 | $ 87,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 | $ 8,000,000 | $ 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Ownership Percentage (in hundredths) | 39.70% | 29.70% | 29.70% | 29.70% | 29.70% | 50.00% | 50.00% | 50.00% | 35.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Before Amortization And Other | (64,000,000) | (45,000,000) | (136,000,000) | (71,000,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method Investments Amortization Of Difference Between Cost And Underlying Equity In Net Assets | 12,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 24,000,000 | 24,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Other Adjustments | (4,000,000) | (2,000,000) | (7,000,000) | (2,000,000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in net income (loss) of equity method investees, net of tax | (73,000,000) | (48,000,000) | (147,000,000) | (74,000,000) | (56,000,000) | (35,000,000) | (119,000,000) | (49,000,000) | (15,000,000) | (9,000,000) | (22,000,000) | (16,000,000) | (2,000,000) | (4,000,000) | (6,000,000) | (9,000,000) | |||||||||||||
| Maximum exposure to loss related variable interest entities | 354,000,000 | 354,000,000 | 354,000,000 | 76,000,000 | 76,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of Inotera's wafer production obligated to purchase (in hundredths) | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inotera amortization remaining to be recognized | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remaining Inotera amortization in 2012 | 25,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inotera net loss | 737,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inotera current liabilities that exceed current assets | 2,200,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party, Current [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount loaned to Inotera | 133,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inotera loan stated annual interest rate | 2.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of DRAM products from Inotera | 142,000,000 | 167,000,000 | 298,000,000 | 304,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on our purchase commitment under the Inotera Supply Agreement | 19,000,000 | 40,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Market value of equity interest in Inotera | 404,000,000 | 404,000,000 | 404,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity method investment net carrying value | 213,000,000 | 213,000,000 | 213,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for cumulative translation adjustments on its investment | 46,000,000 | 46,000,000 | 46,000,000 | 65,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reduction in research and development costs under cost sharing arrangement | 36,000,000 | 33,000,000 | 73,000,000 | 63,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Royalty revenue from Nanya for sales of stack DRAM products | 1,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 13,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ownership percentage after stock transactions during period (in hundredths) | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage interest held by a third party (in hundredths) | 30.40% | 30.40% | 30.40% | 50.00% | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payments to acquire equity method investments | 7,000,000 | 11,000,000 | 170,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 11,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payments by third party to acquire interest in equity method investment of the entity. | $ 4,000,000 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 7,000,000 | $ 11,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||