推理強度和模型怎麼選最省 token?
日常任務用預設等級(Codex 是 Medium,Claude Code 是 high),只替難題往上調;token 吃緊時各降一級、換小一級的模型。等級越高越慢、越耗 token,而且不保證結果更好。
Codex
從能做出結果的最低等級用起,日常停在預設的 Medium;token 吃緊時把 Fast mode 關掉。
在 CLI 裡輸入 /model,可以同時換模型和推理等級:Low、Medium(預設)、High、Extra high、Max、Ultra。OpenAI 的原話是「用能做出結果的最低等級」:等級越高越慢、用的 token 越多;Ultra 還會自動分派 subagent,比單一 agent 更耗。Fast mode 只換速度:快約 1.5 倍,目前的主力模型依 2.5 倍扣額度。模型也一樣:官方建議日常任務換小一級的模型,同一份額度能用得更久。
官方原文
Use the lowest reasoning effort that produces the result you need. Increase it for tasks that need more planning, analysis, or checking.Higher reasoning effort can improve results for complex tasks, but it takes longer and uses more tokens.Higher effort can use more of your allowance and does not always produce a better result.Different models can use different amounts of your allowance for the same task. Larger inputs and outputs, higher reasoning settings, Fast mode and tasks with multiple steps can also increase usage.Switch to a smaller model for routine tasks. Using GPT-5.6 Terra or GPT-5.6 Luna can extend your local-message usage limits, depending on the model you switch from.For GPT-5.6, GPT-5.5, and GPT-5.4, Fast mode increases model speed by 1.5x. GPT-5.6 and GPT-5.5 consume credits at 2.5x the Standard rate; GPT-5.4 consumes credits at 2x the Standard rate.Speed configurations increase credit consumption for all applicable models, so they also use included limits faster.Claude
預設的 high 已經夠日常使用;要省 token 就 /effort medium,日常用 Sonnet,難題再換 Opus 或 Fable。
Claude Code 的 effort 有 low、medium、high、xhigh、max 五級,預設 high。官方對 medium 的說明是「用一點聰明程度換更少的 token」,對 max 的說明是效益遞減、容易想過頭。思考 token 依輸出 token 計算,收合起來看不到的那部分也算。模型方面,官方建議 Sonnet 做日常寫程式,Opus 留給複雜的架構和多步推理;Fable 模型無法關閉思考,耗每週額度也比其他模型快。
官方原文
The effort level controls how much thinking Claude applies to a response. Higher effort means more thorough responses, but they take longer and use more tokens, so you'll reach your usage limits faster.Reduces token usage for cost-sensitive work that can trade off some intelligenceCan improve performance on demanding tasks but may show diminishing returns and is prone to overthinking.Sonnet handles most coding tasks well and costs less than Opus. Reserve Opus for complex architectural decisions or multi-step reasoning.Thinking tokens are billed as output tokens, and the default budget can be tens of thousands of tokens per request depending on the model.You are charged for all thinking tokens generated, even when collapsed or redacted.You can use up to 50% of your weekly usage limits on Fable models at no extra cost. They draw from your plan's regular weekly usage limits and use them faster than other Claude models.For Claude Code users on subscription plans (Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise), fast mode is available via usage credits only and not included in the subscription rate limits.工作階段中途換模型,快取從頭來
Claude Code 裡每個模型有自己的快取。用 /model 換模型之後,下一則訊息會把整段對話重讀一遍,一點快取都用不上,在長工作階段裡換一次很貴。多數模型換 effort 也一樣,Claude Code 會先請你確認;訂閱方案下最新的 Fable 模型是例外,換 effort 不會失去快取。
所以模型和 effort 在工作階段開頭就定好,或 /clear 之後再換。opusplan 每次進出 plan mode 都是一次換模型,每換一次快取就從頭來。
Codex 中途換模型會不會影響快取,OpenAI 沒有寫。
官方原文
Each model has its own cache. Switching with /model means the next request reads the entire conversation history with no cache hits, even though the content is identical.On most models, changing the effort level mid-session means the next request reads the entire conversation history with no cache hits. While the cache is still warm, Claude Code asks you to confirm the change first.常見誤解
- 推理開到最高,結果才最好
不是。OpenAI 的原話是較高的 effort 會用掉更多額度,而且不一定帶來更好的結果;Anthropic 對最高級 max 的說明是效益遞減、容易想過頭。日常任務用預設等級,難題才往上調。
- 思考過程收合起來看不到,就不算 token
算。Claude 的思考 token 依輸出 token 計算,收合或被隱藏的部分同樣計入;Codex 的推理等級也被 OpenAI 列在會增加用量的因素裡。
- Fast mode 只是比較快,不會多花
不對。Codex 的 Fast mode 快約 1.5 倍,但目前的主力模型依 2.5 倍扣額度。Claude Code 的 /fast 在訂閱方案下不走方案額度,而是直接從 usage credits(用量點數)扣。
小提醒
- Codex:輸入 /model,把等級放在 Medium;只有需要多步規劃、反覆核對的任務才調到 High 以上。
- Codex:想固定預設等級,在 ~/.codex/config.toml 裡寫 model_reasoning_effort = "medium"。
- Codex:輸入 /fast status 看 Fast mode 有沒有開著,token 吃緊就輸入 /fast off。
- Claude Code:輸入 /effort,選 medium:按 Enter 是存成以後的預設,按 s 只對這一次工作階段生效。直接輸入 /effort medium 等同按 Enter。
- Claude Code:只有某一句需要深入思考時,在提示裡寫 ultrathink,不用把整個工作階段的 effort 調高。
- Claude Code:日常用 /model sonnet;換模型放在工作階段開頭或 /clear 之後做,別在長工作階段中途換。
- 兩家都一樣:簡單的 subagent 另外指定小一級的模型。