Is the x9 15P with the u5 338h a solid system for computerscience students? What is the difference between the x9 15p and x1c typically?

I'm wondering because I've been doing a tun of research for a good windows and i'm picking between a laptop with a dgpu and one with an igpu. both are quite pricy either way but thanks to the x9 15p's decent cpu pl1 i think if i go for an igpu laptop it will be a good option. But i'm not tapped in to the thinkpad community so whats the general view around the x9 line?