Hey what do you guys suggest for any or all of these software protection programs? Preferably free and preferably something that doesn't clog up the works?
Windows Defender cool? How about McAfee that pesters me to run a scan every time I turn on the computer?
WSS

If you are running Windows 8 and do not run an administrator account or turn off user account control, Windows Defender is probably a reasonable choice. If you are using Windows 7 Vista or XP then you will not get virus coverage unless you use Microsoft Security Essentials. MalwareBytes is less tolerant of the less dangerous forms of malware (adware, tracking cookies etc.) than most antivirus software, but the free version does not automatically scan files when they are downloaded or accessed. 

For free, Windows Defender (included in Windows 8, called Microsoft Security Essentials and available for download for Windows 7) is probably the best. Reasonably low resource usage, about 90% catch rate. It works ok.
 
Personally, I recommend ESET NOD32. It is not free, but it very good. Very fast, very stable, and high catch rate, more like 98-99%. Plus you can configure the scanning engine to exclude certain file types (so like I exclude NKI, NKM, WAV, FLAC, BFDLAC, and so on, all the audio stuff) to keep usage down on intensive stuff.

Thanks sycraft. I will be checking that out. Haven't heard of ESET before, but am getting tired of various aspects of Avast.

As I've said many times before here: Windows Defender / Security Essentials is rubbish. It has a very low detection rate which makes it mostly useless. Avira or Avast are probably the two best free options out there.
 
Malwarebytes is great for what it does though and I recommend keeping that on hand.

The best defense IMO is to run MSE/Defender and STAY AWAY FROM pRon SITES!!  

I can highly recommend ESET also as others with their fancy graphics and needless checks just slow your system down. Avira Internet Security is pretty good too although if you need proper isolation I would say Installing linux in a virtual box environment will deter the need for it all together.

I use the Microsoft Defender plus a paid version of Malwarebytes.  I have not had any problems but I'm limited on sites I visit and do not click on links in any e-mail.   This combination does not cause any DPC Latency issues and does not conflict with Sonar.
 
Everyone zaps Microsoft but its probably the most widely used.  I do some PC support and I've recommended the Microsoft and Malwarebytes to all my clients, and all except one are using them and not having any security issues.

I am content with the free Comodo Internet Security Suite. It has an antivirus, sandbox, firewall and also a good hips thingy which is often better than an antivirus app. You only have to install those things you want from those.
I also use Sandboxie, which is great I believe. Some people don't even use an antivirus app when they have Sandboxie.

A sandbox will protect the host system from most malware. But if you only run programs within the sandbox, then the sandbox is in effect the system, and if it becomes infected, you will need to clean it up or re-install everything in the virtual space. If you are browsing in a sandbox (browsers like Internet Explorer and Chrome already run inside a sandbox of sorts) and download and install a program on the host system (either deliberately or inadvertently) then a virus payload has access to the host system. So an antivirus program is still pretty much a requirement for safety for almost all users.