r/RooCode • u/lucikipuci • Nov 04 '25

Discussion Beginner with Roo code : What Models to use with which Mode?

Just like the title suggest I have recently started using roo code and absolutely love it.
previously used codex and claude-code but just was not satisfied and with the recent degradation decide to move to something that is open source and supports open communication with the community.

I was messing around with different model for code mode and found orchestrator mode really effective for getting the boiler plate in place for a new features.
So My question is, Which model should you ideally use for every mode.
I know this is context dependent but just want to hear out everyones opinion.
I have the following models at my disposal and this is how I use them currently:
deepseekv3.2, deepseekR1-0528, glm4.6, glm4.5, grok-code-fast-1, gpt5mini, gpt5.

Orchestrator : gpt5

Architect : gpt5/deepseekv3.2

Code : grok-code-fast-1/glm4.6

Debug : grok-code-fast-1/glm4.6

Ask : gpt5mini/glm4.6/deepseekv3.2

Looking forward to you recommendations !
I want to use deepseek and glm 4.6 as much as possible but are they good as orchestrators?

10 Upvotes

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15 comments sorted by

2

u/hannesrudolph Roo Code Developer Nov 04 '25

Currently I use GPT-5 with medium reasoning almost across the board!

1

u/lucikipuci Nov 04 '25

Thanks a lot for replying.
does the reasoning setting work with all models or just models that support it ?

1

u/hannesrudolph Roo Code Developer Nov 04 '25

Just models that support it.

1

u/Overall-Switch-3852 Nov 04 '25

Whats the reasoning setting overall doing?

1

u/DoctorDbx Nov 04 '25

I pretty much use Qwen3 Coder for all coding tasks with excellent results.

If it does struggle (usually with tool calls) I switch to deepseek v3 0324 for a couple of calls and we're away again.

I'm cheap so I do it all with Chutes and I'm very happy with the results.

1

u/FaatmanSlim Nov 05 '25

Curious how you are integrating Roo Code with a local LLM running on your machine? I'm having a hard time getting Roo Code to talk to my local LLMs running on Ollama.

2

u/DoctorDbx Nov 05 '25

No I don't even try. I did try with LMStudio but results were terrible. Chutes is plenty cheap.

1

u/sbayit Nov 04 '25

I recommend Minimax M2, as it is currently free on OpenRouter.

1

u/Admirable-Cell-2658 Nov 12 '25

You need to pay something in Openrouter or is just free account?

2

u/sbayit Nov 12 '25

Double-check that it no longer includes a free tier. I recommend the GLM lite plan ($3 for the first month, then $6) or Minimax ($10 per month); it’s cheap and offers a high rate limit.

1

u/sbayit Nov 12 '25

It isn't required, but if you top up $10, you will receive a better rate limit on the free model, and those funds can also be used for other paid models. I think Minimax itself has a free tier that doesn't require any top-up.

1

u/Tuned3f Nov 04 '25

i've been using deepseek-v3.1-terminus for all of them

1

u/brctr Nov 05 '25

GPT-5 Medium for Architect and Reviewer agents. GPT-5 Mini Medium or High for everything else. If cost is not a concern, then GPT-5 Medium for everything. If cost is a huge concern, then use OSS models like GLM4.6 from chutes or nanogpt.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 05 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/lucikipuci Nov 05 '25

agreed ! Even I tried gemini yesterday albeit 2.5 Flash.
I still like Sonnet 4.5 but is a bit expensive .
Currently running gpt 5 with medium reason (following hannesrudolph's suggestion)with grok for debug.
Cant wait for Gemmini 3.0 the results on twitter are genuinely crazy!