How many external monitors can I support with 13" rMBP (late 2012)?

According to this http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219 it can support up to two displays.

Applespec says up to two:

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP658

Everymac says theoretically three, but it gets WAY too hot:

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring*

2nd Max. Resolution:

2560x1600 (x2*)

Details:

*This model supports a simultaneous maximum resolution up to 2560x1600 on two external displays via Thunderbolt. Alternately, it can support a single display up to 2560x1600 via Thunderbolt and a single display up to 1920x1200 via HDMI. Although it can theoretically power all three external displays, as confirmed by a helpful reader, it runs too hot with three displays connected. Also see: How many external displays can the Retina Display MacBook Pro models support? What is the maximum supported resolution of each? Are adapters required?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/specs/macbook-pro-core-i7-2.9- 13-late-2012-retina-display-specs.html

.

I'm running twin Apple 27s and the MBP retina screen (3 screens), all three at full resolution... no additional heat detected. Anybody plug in a third 27in to actually test this in the real world? Is this still valid if you purchase one of the new Apples (thunderbolt 2) that can drive a 4k monitor?

I got my new 13" Retina in the other day (late 2013 model ME865LL/A)

I was all excited to see if the two Thunderbolt 2 outputs and the HDMI output would work together, but plugging in the HDMI output knocked out one of the Thunderbolt outputs, so what I read was right, the 13" model will only power two external monitors. Before I got this I kept reading over and over how it wasn't possible, but that was dealing with the Late '12 or the Early '13 models, I was hoping that the upgraded video card on the newest Haswell versions may be different, but alas, not to be....

But I did implement a work around as I have a Matrox Triple Head 2 Go DP Edition for my old Macbook and what that does is make my two Lenovo 22" widescreens look like one big 3840x1200 monitor to it's host (tricking the MB to thinking "hey, this is one monitor"), so this allows me to use one Thunderbolt output to power these two monitors and then I am using an HDMI --> DVI cable to power an HP 23" widescreen monitor I also have running at full resolution, all this in addition to the Laptop display as well:

Here is a quick 20 second video of all monitors playing video.... the one on the left in the middle row was staggering but that is more a problem with AMC's website more than anything, I never get good stream speeds from their site

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfIsupl3psc

I just installed iStat 4 an hour ago and am showing CPU temps around 150 degrees, not really sure what "normal" is or what is acceptable...... I'm going to keep tabs on what the temps are as I finish up my workday here (another 6 hours to go)

I still want to re-arrangle things so i only have two levels of screens to deal with, but still formulating that setup with my desk

MorningZ I *love* your solution!

I have been driving 2 external monitors from my mid-2012 15" MBPr, and luckily for my budget don't have room for another screen. :-]

For the 3-monitor mounting system, I use a Chief Manufacturing KTP-320. I have my MBPr at the left position (unattached to the stand, but sitting on a Rain Design Mstand), a 23" monitor in the middle, and a 19" monitor on the right. Since the MBPr is not attached, I cna move the other 2 monitors along the track wherever needed. Going to the MBPr and 3 external monitors would be tough unless they are small. But there are a lot of mounts out there. Good luck!

I see that 2 monitors can be used...is there any additional CPU hit? I have a 13" MBPr late 2013 and I use Logic Pro. I am used to a 2006 Mac Pro with 2 24" displays so it was a huge change to go to 1 13" display...the compuetr is amazing. I am just wondering, can I power those 2 additional monitors without taking a CPU hit for Logic processing?

3 external displays DOES work.

I am on a Late 2013 MacBook Pro. I have 1 monitor on the HDMI port, 1 on a displayport to HDMI adapter, and one on an ACTIVE displayport to DVI adapter. I'm thinking that the trick here is to use an Active DVI adapter (mine is from Accell)

All are 1920X1080 monitors.

Before going for an expensive splitter, using APPLE TV as AirPlay-Monitor is also a nice way to stack up on work-space. Beside conviniently connecting with an iphone and such.

[24" LG, Thunderbolt to HDMI]

[24" LG, Thunderbolt to HDMI]

[MacBook Pro 13 late 2012 Retina]

[720p Projector, Apple TV HDMI]

So i have a late 2013 15in MBPr with the highend graphics chip and i am running a thunderbolt screen, a 30inch cinema display and a old 20inch samsung in clamshell mode and notice no unsusual heat issues.

my question would be could I chain a 4th screen off the thunderbolt port on the thunderbolt display.

has anyone tried that?

A 13" MacBook Pro Retina late 2013 can push three external displays and the retina screen which would make four total. See the video link; 1 HDMI, 1 MiniDisplay Port, and 1 thru a USB3.0 Port using a Startech external video card to DVI adapter. All the external displays are circa 2003 Apple Cinema HD Displays hooked up thru each monitor's Apple Display Connector (ADC), then to Apple ADC to DVI adapters, then to the relevant third adapter plugged into the MacBook. The screens are 1920 x 1200, 23 inch screens. The USB to DVI video card/adapter is $60 - $70 Amazon.

http://youtu.be/ys_Glzkh0aE