Visual C++ is a good IDE with a very good compiler.
The Express edition is freely available. The current version is the 2010. The 2012 suites are in development (or even finished by now?), but the Express edition is not yet available.
The IDE is rather lightweight, making it ideal for beginners and for smaller projects without much nonsense.
If you want a bit more functionality, you can try one of the "fuller" suites. If you're at a University, chances are you can download the Professional version for free at https://www.dreamspark.com/.
Generally, I would recommend the Express edition, unless you're looking for specific functionality. It's lean and lightweight.