when you compile using ./configure; ./make; ./make install
you are compiling specific for your system.
./configure - gathers information about your system for the installation.
./make - compiles the program for you.
./make install - installs the program all over you system
when compiling you sometimes will need to set flags to get things working typing ./configure --help or something similar should list the flags that are possible.
An alternative to compiling from source and my preferred option is to download .rpm files so that all of this has been done for you and you are able to remove/upgrade easily because all information about the program is in the rpm database (Much like Add/Remove programs in Windows).
If you need an rpm go to
http://rpm.pbone.net/ you can find many rmps here