Update: the components for Build 2.1 have been purchased and will all arrive by Monday evening. Thanks for all your input on building this HTPC.
Our HTPC is rather old, large and somewhat noisey. I have been given clearance to build something better, provided it costs less than $450 (excluding Windows).
This HTPC needs to handle our current USB-based tuner stick so that DVR capabilities exist. Aside from that, it also needs to handle websites that don't have Chromecast support. It should ideally be smaller, quieter, and use less power annually.
Build 2.1