NVIDIA 2013 Annual Report Download - page 219

NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Continued)
75
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line
method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to five years. The estimated useful lives of our
buildings are up to twenty five years. Depreciation expense includes the amortization of assets recorded under capital leases.
Leasehold improvements and assets recorded under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of the expected lease term
or the estimated useful life of the asset.
Goodwill
Goodwill is subject to our annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, or earlier if indicators of
potential impairment exist. For the purposes of completing our impairment test, we perform either a qualitative or a
quantitative analysis on a reporting unit basis.
For those reporting units where a significant change or event has occurred, where potential impairment indicators exist,
or for which we have not performed a quantitative assessment recently, we utilize a two-step quantitative assessment to
testing goodwill for impairment. The first step tests for possible impairment by applying a fair value-based test by weighing
the results from the income approach and the market approach. The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of such
impairment by applying fair value-based tests to individual assets and liabilities. Please refer to Note 5 of these Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets primarily represent rights acquired under technology licenses, patents, acquired intellectual property,
trademarks and customer relationships and are subject to an annual impairment test. We currently amortize our intangible
assets with definitive lives over periods ranging from one to ten years using a method that reflects the pattern in which the
economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up or, if that pattern cannot be reliably determined,
using a straight-line amortization method.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset, or asset group may
not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an
asset, or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset, or asset group. If
the carrying amount of an asset or asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized
for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset or
asset group. Fair value is determined based on the estimated discounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the
asset or asset group. Assets and liabilities to be disposed of would be separately presented in the consolidated balance sheet
and the assets would be reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and would no longer be
depreciated.
Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations
We account for asset retirement obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated
asset retirement costs. The accounting guidance applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived
assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the assets and requires that the fair
value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable
estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset and
this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. As of January 26, 2014 and January 27, 2013, our
asset retirement obligations to return the leasehold improvements at our headquarters facility in Santa Clara, California and