You do not have to turn it sideways. I have this motherboard, but you do have to slightly push the NB cooler to the left. The other option is to put the clips that retain the fan 3 notches from the bottom. If you want it to work, you can make it. In other news, I think I am getting ready to RMA my P7N Platinum. It won't get past the bios. First it started to end random programs, then threw bsods, then started throwing bsods during startup, and now can't get past the bios screen. I think I would choose another motherboard if I were in the process of building a new system.