Balance Sheet Details (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013
Inventories
Work in progress	$ 40,640us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcess	$ 34,503us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcess
Finished goods	11,991us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoods	10,768us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoods
Total inventories	52,631us-gaap_InventoryNet	45,271us-gaap_InventoryNet
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Distributor Advances	32,932slab_DistributorAdvances	31,839slab_DistributorAdvances
Other	16,239us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	15,812us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	49,171	47,651
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	210,138us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	205,968us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Accumulated depreciation	(77,318)	(73,523)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total	132,820us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	132,445us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Accrued Expenses
Accrued compensation and benefits	28,443	24,896
Acquisition-related holdback	20,010
Other	25,193us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	21,079us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total	73,646us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	45,975us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Other Non-current Liabilities
Contingent consideration	14,150	12,919
Acquisition-related holdback		20,010
Other	29,541us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	23,012us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Liabilities, Other than Long-term Debt, Noncurrent, Total	43,691	55,941
Buildings and improvements
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	94,453	94,221
Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	51,654	51,071
Computers and purchased software
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	27,282	25,556
Leasehold interest in ground leases
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	23,840	23,840
Furniture and fixtures
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	4,008	3,496
Leasehold improvements
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, gross	$ 8,901	$ 7,784

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Amount before valuation and LIFO reserves of completed merchandise or goods expected to be sold within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

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Aggregated carrying amounts of obligations as of the balance sheet date, excluding long-term debt, incurred as part of the normal operations that are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Alternate captions include Total Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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