New York, Feb 3, 2026, 08:50 (EST) — Premarket
- Intel shares rose roughly 4% in premarket action, following a close at $48.81
- SAIMEMORY is set to collaborate with Intel on developing “Z-Angle Memory” tailored for AI data centers, aiming to have prototypes ready by March 2028
- Intel unveiled new Xeon 600 workstation processors, expected to hit the market in late March
Intel shares climbed 4.3% to $50.89 in premarket trading Tuesday, building on earlier gains following SoftBank Corp.’s announcement that its fully owned subsidiary will partner with the chipmaker on a novel memory technology designed for AI data centers.
Investors are expanding their AI bets beyond graphics chips as memory—critical for feeding processors—emerges as a key bottleneck in cost and power. Markets remain volatile ahead of a packed week of corporate earnings.
TrendForce bumped up its forecast for conventional DRAM contract prices on Monday, projecting a 90% to 95% surge in the January-to-March quarter versus the previous three months. The firm cites rising AI demand as a key driver deepening the supply crunch. DRAM, the primary memory in computers and servers, appears set for a sharp price jump.
SoftBank announced a partnership focused on “Z-Angle Memory,” or ZAM, which it pitched as offering high capacity, high bandwidth, and lower power consumption. The companies plan to have prototypes ready by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028, with commercialization expected in 2029. ソフトバンク
On Monday, Intel unveiled its new “Xeon 600” workstation processors, targeting data-heavy tasks with higher core counts and faster memory support. “We’re delivering the platform professionals need in their daily workflows,” said Hector Guevarez. The chips are set to hit the market in late March 2026. Newsroom
The memory project appears to be a long-term play. Jukan Choe of Citrini Research suggested that teaming up with an AI chip heavyweight like Nvidia would be crucial to “truly shake things up.” He also pointed out the uphill battle against entrenched players like Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron. MarketScreener
SoftBank’s interest in Intel dates back. In mid-2025, the SoftBank Group committed $2 billion to the U.S. chipmaker.
Another filing might catch traders’ attention. On Monday, an SEC Form 144 revealed that April V Boise intends to offload as many as 20,000 shares via Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.
The downside is clear: ZAM work is still years away from volume production, and memory tech is notoriously tough on newcomers. If timelines slip or data-center spending slows, Tuesday’s catalyst could vanish quickly.
Investors will soon see if the premarket gains stick once trading kicks off. Chip stocks could also react to Advanced Micro Devices’ earnings report, due after the bell Tuesday. That report often signals shifts in server demand, which can move the entire sector.
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