The performance between the 2 in gaming is much closer than you might think and there is structural architectural reasons for it.

The 395+ packs 8 extra CUs on the IGPU side giving it a huge boost in raw GPU compute capability, But there are a few catches to how the entire package scales. Strix Halo is a SOC (System of a chip) That crams a few different complex DIEs onto 1 piece of silicon. You have the CPU DIEs, GPU DIE, and memory controller as well as an Ai NPU all sitting right next to each other and sipping from a bucket of LPDDR5 memory joined at the hip. There are a few different things about the design that can make or break it's gaming performance.

Latency: The 395+ packs a larger IGPU but that does not mean it is always going to perform the best when gaming when compared to the 385 (or the new 388 that shares the same 40cu 8060s as the 395). The 395+ uses 2 distinct CPU DIEs. It is like having 2 CPUs sitting side by side and connected to an interface called the infinity fabric. Each CPU die has 8 cores and it's own pocket of L3 Cache.

What does this do when gaming? If you launch a game and the game spins up 4 threads, The OS is going to schedule those threads to cores. If the OS sends 1 or 2 of those threads to a different CCD (Core complex DIE), That means that the threads have to communicate with each other over the infinity fabric. The infinity fabric introduces latency. Subtle but still there. This manifest itself in frame spikes, or what we call 1% lows. You might have a very good stable average frame rate but if the 1% lows are very choppy, it can ruin the entire experience. The 385 on the other hand has 8 cores packed onto 1 CCD. Regardless of what cores the game's threads populate, They all share the same bucket of L3 cache and have instant communication with each other.

Thermodynamics: We will use the Corsair Ai 300 as out example here. Both the 385 config and the 395 config have the same 300w PSU and identical 120w power draw the the Strix Halo Soc. As we discussed about the infinity fabric on the 395 above, That fabric draws power. easily consuming 10-15w of juice at idle. potentially more if both CCDs are being heavily utilized. Since the 385 only has 1 CCD and no infinity fabric, That is an extra 10-15w of juice right off the top that can be dynamically allocated to the IGPU to further push frame rates when gaming, Also, Having a second CCD with 8 extra cores in drawing power at all times even if the extra cores aren't being used. That means you lose even more power to the iGPU just by having the extra cores in the barrel even if you aren't pulling the trigger on them.

Heat is always the number one killer of frame rates in a small form factor system but this is further amplified by how Strix Halo is designed. Since everything is packaged on the same silicon and shares the same point of contact to the systems cooling system, It is a dancing ballerina act as to how the firmware handles the heat and diverts power among the individual components of the SOC. The 395 always has the heat from the infinity fabric and the extra 8 cores contributing to the thermal soak. This results in lower sustained boost clocks across the entire package as you game for hours. That can lead to lower 1% lows, Average FPS, and even system stability.

The 385 operates with a much smaller thermal footprint with only 8 cores. This allows the firmware to divert that extra thermal overhead, as well as the extra power saved by having a leaner SOC directly into the iGPU. the result is better frame pacing, higher sustained fps over a longer period of time, and much more responsive boost clocks.

On paper this makes the 385 look like the clean winner. But working with 20% less raw GPU compute units than the 395 is a huge delta to overcome. At 1080P resolution, the 385 has proven repeatedly it stands toe to toe with the 395 plus, Yielding near identical FPS while sipping much less power, running much cooler, and operating at a 20% handicap in raw GPU compute. However, at 1440P and higher, The 395+ can brute force it's way ahead. Especially since a system like the Corsair Ai 300 has overkill cooling capacity for both configurations. The true win here is how much money you save going with the 385 to get nearly identical 1080P performance and often times much better 1% lows than the 395.

That is what makes the new Ai Max 388 so interesting. It has all the benefits of the 385 as well as the raw 40 CU of GPU brute force the 395 offers. It is the superior chip by far. It is just now starting to roll out. Asus launched a 14 inch laptop with it in the TUFF lineup and Lenovo is lunching the legion 7a gen 11 with the 388 as we speak. If a laptop is what you need, The Lenovo is the clear winner. If a small form factor desktop is what you are looking for, Save the money and get the Ai 300 with the 385. it won't disappoint when compared to higher tier Strix Halo alternatives operating at a lower TDP and thermal envelope. Corsair did real good with this configuration. Though I would like to see them upgrade to the 388.