  We report detailed measurements of the pump-current dependency of the
self-pulsating frequency of semiconductor CD lasers. A distinct kink in this
dependence is found and explained using rate-equation model. The kink denotes a
transition between a region where the self-pulsations are weakly sustained
relaxation oscillations and a region where Q-switching takes place. Simulations
show that spontaneous emission noise plays a crucial role for the cross-over.
