LLM Model Selection Skill
Choosing the right model for the task — power vs. cost vs. speed.
npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill llm-model-selection-fabioc-aloha-youtube-mcp-vscode --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
# LLM Model Selection Skill > Choosing the right model for the task — power vs. cost vs. speed. ## ⚠️ Staleness Warning This skill depends on rapidly evolving technology. Model capabilities, pricing, and availability change frequently. **Refresh triggers:** - New model announcements (Claude, GPT, Gemini, etc.) - Significant pricing changes - Context window expansions - New capability tiers **Last validated:** February 2026 (Claude 4.6 generation) **Check current state:** [Anthropic Models](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/docs/about-claude/models), [OpenAI Models](https://platform.openai.com/docs/models) --- ## The Core Question > Is Claude Opus 4.6 overkill? **Sometimes yes, sometimes no.** Match the model to the task. ## Claude 4 Model Family (Current) | Model | API ID | Best For | Input/Output (MTok) | Context | Max Output | | ----- | ------ | -------- | ------------------- | ------- | ---------- | | **Opus 4.6** | `claude-opus-4-6` | Building agents, most intelligent | $5 / $25 | 200K (1M beta) | 128K | | **Sonnet 4.6** | `claude-sonnet-4-6` | Best speed + intelligence balance | $3 / $15 | 200K (1M beta) | 64K | | **Haiku 4.5** | `claude-haiku-4-5-20251001` | Near-frontier i
- ⚠️ Staleness Warning
- The Core Question
- Claude 4 Model Family (Current)
- Model Tiers
- When Opus 4.6 IS Worth It
- When Opus 4.6 IS Overkill
- How LLM Choice Affects Alex
- Alex's Cognitive Power by Model
- Cost Optimization Strategy
- Knowledge Cutoffs
- Auto Model Selection ⚠️
- Tasks That REQUIRE Opus 4.5 (Warn User)
- Warning Protocol
- Safe for Any Model
What does the LLM Model Selection Skill skill do?
Choosing the right model for the task — power vs. cost vs. speed.
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill llm-model-selection-fabioc-aloha-youtube-mcp-vscode --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From majiayu000/claude-skill-registry, a repository with 534 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.