Yes and no... MEP 17 does not have the option, available in the latest versions, to render a typically complex section and automatically use it immediatly for previewing so that playback is smoother during editing.
You can however render any section you want using 'File' >> 'Export movie' >> Video as (format)..., and ticking the box for 'Export selected range only'. This produces a new video clip on your hard drive but does not incorporate it into your project.