[CentOS] Apache, MySQL, and PHP

Hi,
     I need to ask a question about the usuage of these particular
packages...do you install the binaries for each or do you use what
comes with the OS out of the box??? The reason why I am asking is
because I am having problems using the one that comes with the OS.
Everything else runs great but I am using CentOS for the first time
and I want to make sure that I am not spinning my wheels doing
something that I should leave alone. Thanks!

-- Dexter
Systems Administrator
Clemson University