Question Can I use unallocated space to increase dynamic SLC-caching on Intel 660p ?

[starvinmarvin]

Intel 660p (and some other SSDs) employ unused space on the drive as an SLC cache. Suppose I format a 1TB Intel 660p with a 750GB boot partition, leaving the remaining space unallocated. Will the Dynamic SLC-caching software see the unallocated space and use it as additional caching space?

 

[USAFRet]

No.
The drive will act as it does.

Partitioning on an SSD is totally different that an HDD.

With an HDD, a partition is a physical space. These particular cylinders.
On an SSD, any partitioning you do is simply a logical representation. The drive firmware shuffles data around as it sees fit, among ALL the cells. You can't wall of a certain set of cells and use the rest for your data.

250GB empty space is 250GB empty space, partition or no.

 

[popatim]

And besides, most modern drives use dynamic slc emulation which means they use a very large chuck of the unused space, partitioned or not, as the buffer. Leaving a portion of an SSD as unallocated leaves the controller with 'room to work in' for then the drive approaches being full. There are other tasks that need space, such as garbage collection and trim, aside from being a buffer.