CVS on RHEL5 (custom compile or package install)

I'm setting up a new code repository box for all the standard reasons, faster hardware, better backups, more storage, better flexibility, etc.

Any opinions on why I should or shouldn't DL the source, ./configure;make;make test;make install, versus installing via yum?

Unfortunately I don't have the history on how the original box was built, so if custom compile flags were used I'll have to figure that out as I go along.  And clearly if they are needed, then I will have to compile, but if I can get away with a package that I can more easily update I'm all for that.  I'm not  a developer, just someone who putzes around in Perl when needed, but a lot of years in unix admin.

I have been on the list for a few months and I don't think this is out of line with being on-topic, but if I am in the wrong section, please let me know and I'll move the conversation elsewhere.

Thanks,
Dan