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I setup some comp & the casing front panel connector have HD audio as well as AC97, which one should i install to ensure the front panel of the speaker & mic of the casing is working when someone plug in either one

As long as the case has plugs for both, then I would use HD. Some board's the BIOS has to be set for AC97 or HD. My new board only has HD, no option for AC97,even tho my case is wired for both. You'll just have to test it out once it's all hooked up.

I never set front panel stuff [only usb or fw] but is not hd digi and or 480000 and ac97 is analog 410000. Most all programs or games what ever easy use the analog. HD gives more probs as far as hook up and type of speakers and such. Opti hook ups and such are normally hd.

I would guess most front panel stuff would be analog for hooking up mics or head phones..

I want to get a head set. I do not have a 3rd party sound card and I have always read you get the best sound and mic from usb. Some say if you have a stand alone card it is best to use the 3mm mini hook ups- and best to set your sound card and windows for head phones if going to use them. Well even on the sound card the mic and headphone would plug into analog jacks on the sound cards- I think that is ac97 which is 1 or the least standard and can do 24bit studio 410000- hd is up to 32bit 480000 if I remember right..

If you can only use 1 or the other- I say use the analog. If you need hd you can run the opti cable or what ever you need out of the sound card out the back of the computer on the io when you need it..

Mr. Chris wrote:As long as the case has plugs for both, then I would use HD. Some board's the BIOS has to be set for AC97 or HD. My new board only has HD, no option for AC97,even tho my case is wired for both. You'll just have to test it out once it's all hooked up.

Though the casing comes with HD audio & AC97 cable/connector but then the mobo only have a front panel connector thus i guess either one HD audio & AC97 cable/connector should be able to connect? So far i have connected the HD audio cable from the casing onto the front panel on the mobo itself

Correct, you can only attach one connector to the front panel pins on the motherboard. The wires from the front panel may have both HD and AC97 connectors on them, just pick the ones you want to use and plug them into the motherboard.
I used the HD connector on my old Biostar board and also on this new Gigabyte board. On my old Biostar board, you had to choose in BIOS which audio you were using, either HD or AC97. My new Gigabyte board only has HD. The pin out's for AC97 and HD are different so make sure the BIOS is set correctly. Both HD and AC97 are analog, as Erik said. The SPDIF out is digital but requires a digital reciever or amp to play sound.