If the AMD Threadripper 16c/32t $850 rumors are true, Intel might as well scrap their 12-16 core plans and just launch the 18 core. Even if Threadripper ends up being $999, which was likely based on their recent Ryzen pricing, Intel is in big trouble. Gaming and IPC won't be the main draw for these chips, and AMD clearly has the multi-thread advantage.
However with the i9, 16c/32t being $1699, and 14c/28t being $1399, I cannot see how AMD would leave too much money on the table at this point. Threadripper should also be out before most of these Intel chips, so why AMD wouldn't offer their 16 core chip at $1399, just to be able to say your getting 16 cores for the same price as Intel's 14 cores, $300 cheaper than Intel's equivalent 16 cores, with better multi-threaded performance, is beyond me.
Since AMD hasn't set pricing as of yet, even though Intel has, I would have to assume that these Threadripper chips won't end up being the same value as Ryzen. AMD may want market share, but leaving easy money on the table just wouldn't make any sense with i9 prices being as high as they are. Unless Intel is keeping something special secret by not unveiling the 12-18 core specs, I don't see them putting up much of a fight against Threadripper.
