Please help with apache upgrade questions

[damovand <galaxylappin optonline net>]

I am new to Linux, from an XP background, so please help if you can.  I need 
to upgrade my apache from an older version to httpd-2.0.47.  But I am 
wondering if I need to uninstall the older version and if so what's the best 
way of doing so.  Can I just download the version from apach site and then 
run ./configure, make and make install?  Or do I need to use up2date.

Please note that I've never used up2date, or installed anything from rpm, 
being new to Linux, which is why I prefer to do a direct install. 

I'd really appreciate you input.

thanks in advance